Covid-19 has left more health effects during these months than hospitals, including those resulting from the burning of waste. When the Spanish Government declared a state of emergency in March, many power plants recorded a marked decrease in energy due to the drop in demand. Furthermore, in the incinerator of Zabalgarbi, the waste has not been recovered in more than a month, and this fact again calls into question its alleged efficiency.

Gorka Bueno, professor at the UPV/EHU and expert in the matter, has made it known to us in his Twitter account. Through the application created with a student, they monitor the records of the Iberian Electricity Market, including those of the Bizkaia incinerator: “The last record in which energy was generated was March 26,” says Well. There is nothing else until at least July 11, which is the last registration date we have.”

According to these data, 30 tonnes of waste per hour were incinerated in Zabalgarbi in those months, a total of 50,000 tonnes of unvalued waste, as pointed out by the UPV/EHU professor: “Covid-19 has seriously affected the recovery of waste generated in Bizkaia.”

In its view, the incinerator has taken advantage of the annual stop in this section. But another surprising fact is that Zabalgarbi made two more unscheduled stops in January and February. “Why did he stop it? How many dioxins and furans spilled to stop the furnaces and set them in motion?” he asked.