Dr Andrew Murrison MP introduced a Waste Incinerators Bill in Parliament on 25 November 2025, co-sponsored by a cross-party grouping of MPs (Steve Barclay, Brian Mathew, John Glen, Danny Kruger, Euan Stainbank, Ben Obese-Jecty, Lee Barron, Lloyd Hatton and Robbie Moore).
Together they are calling for the prohibition “of construction work in respect of new waste incinerators, other than in cases where substantial construction has already begun” alongside asking Government to make “provision about the taxation of waste disposed of by way of incineration” and “to prohibit local authorities from entering into any contract for the incineration of waste which requires them to pay financial penalties if a minimum amount of waste is not delivered for incineration” and for connected purposes.
UKWIN was mentioned alongside Westbury Gasification Action Group (WGAG):
“…I begin by paying tribute to colleagues from across the House who have spoken out against waste incinerators. My commendations go too to the United Kingdom Without Incineration Network and local campaign groups, including Westbury Gasification Action Group, which have been a thorn in the side of the incinerator industry. For too long, too many of our constituents have lived in the shadow of waste burners that pollute the air that we breathe. This Bill puts the reduction, reuse and recycling principles of the waste hierarchy back into waste management…” Dr Andrew Murrison MP
In less than 2 days more than 1,300 people wrote to their respective Members of Parliament to make their MPs aware of the Bill and to ask for their support. No Incinerator 4 Horsham Community Group was very pleased to see that Horsham MP, John Milne, was in the House of Commons and to hear that Crawley MP, Peter Lamb, was in the library waiting for the vote, which was not needed as there were no objections to the Waste Incinerators Bill.
United Kingdom Without Incineration Network (UKWIN) and Community Groups across the UK, including No Incinerator 4 Horsham Community Group (Ni4H) and WGAG / No Westbury Incinerator, remain poised to take action in advance of the Bill’s anticipated second reading, which is provisionally Friday 16th January 2026.
UKWIN said: “we have sent a clear message that the age of incineration is over and we hope that this is heard by MPs as well as those who are thinking about investing in, committing to, or abandoning waste incineration projects.”
Qair purchased Britaniacrest Recycling Ltd on 13 September 2022. Qair is a European independent renewable energy producer, the CHER project in Horsham would be their first incinerator. Planning Permission had been granted on appeal on 27 February 2020. An Environmental Permit was issued by the Environment Agency on 16 November 2022, following a High Public Interest Consultation.
Since then incineration overcapacity has increased, recycling is increasing, waste is reducing, and industry costs are increasing. Food waste collections have already started in West Sussex, because of government rules for Simpler Recycling, by Autumn 2026 food waste will be collected from all parts of West Sussex.
Dr Andrew Murrison is South West Wiltshire MP, his constituency includes Westbury.
Qair acquired a majority stake in Northacre Renewable Energy Limited (NREL) on 11 July 2024, to deliver the Northacre incinerator in Westbury, Wiltshire, to process 243,000 tonnes per year. The Environmental Permit had been granted in June 2022 and planning permission from the Planning Inspectorate in February 2023. The Hills Group, as a shareholder of NREL, would supply waste.
The official video of Dr Murrison’s 10-minute rule bill’s first reading can be found at: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/31b68428-2026-4b30-8ed5-ca8f589f5040?in=15:26:43
An official transcript is available on Hansard: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-11-25/debates/22EAF108-DA7B-4346-9D20-12A0504CE5F3/WasteIncinerators
The Waste Incinerators Bill has been widely reported, including by the BBC: “MP puts forward anti-waste incinerator bill” https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c989djx4e2jo
In Horsham, West Sussex, as in Westbury, Wiltshire, No Incinerator 4 Horsham Community Group and WGAG / No Westbury Incinerator, and other anti-incinerator groups across the UK, will continue to oppose incineration plans, for all the reasons outlined in the Waste Incinerators Bill, including that “we have too many waste incinerators already”.
