The basis for the independent management of pollution control by the Zubieta incinerator is established. It is a self-defense initiative that emerged from the people and that the people themselves, with the help of experts, presented in September 2019 Zubieta Lantze along with the Movement Against the Incinerator. At that time, the effort to be repeated every year began to materialize. It was in 2019 that the "0 measurement" of the incinerator contamination materialized, which was still in the "testing phase" and was "fully switched on". The objective is to compare it with the data collection that occurs after the start-up of the plant at the top of Zubieta, and therefore to measure the contamination that can be caused by the treatment plant that generates the smoke column at any time.

Precursor

This Saturday at noon the results of the first data collection of 2019 have been presented in the auditorium of the Fogón. The event, organised by the Anerreka Environmental Association, wanted to thank and recall that what they wanted to share today is "your project", as Maider Usabiaga pointed out, one of the drivers of this project, which has been launched by the public. It would point out that a crowdfunding campaign was carried out and that, thanks to public input, it was possible to initiate independent control of the pollution of the incinerator. It is a project financed by the citizens and supported by the municipalities of Usurbil, Hernani and Oiartzun, as well as by different union and political actors.

Thanks to the cooperation of all "a biomonitoring project has been defined that will monitor the contamination of the incinerator". A research project that aims to be "scientific, true, modern and transparent". The construction and implementation of the incinerator, which is part of its "local concern" and is having a major international impact, is a pioneer in its measurement, according to engineers Maider Usabiaga and Felix Olaetxea reported this Saturday at noon. "Zero measurements, a picture of the situation prior to the incineration plant being set up to compare it with that of the future".

Influence of other sources of pollution

The research area comprises the territories of Buruntzaldea and Donostia. Eggs were collected from 10 individual barrels from the land of the incinerator's area of influence, plant, leaf and soil samples from 7 nearby areas, water samples from 2 areas, 4 sediment samples and 39 breast milk samples from 39 mothers from 3 municipalities (Usurbil, Lasarte, Andoain). For this study, the independent Dutch Toxicowatch Foundation and the company Geiser, accredited by the Basque Government, were hired to work impartially "with all possible guarantees".

"Measurements 0" has laid the foundation of the research for the coming years. "The locations, samples and parameters to be measured have been determined annually". And the results that indicate that we have to reflect. Considering that the incinerator had not yet been switched on, "high levels of contamination have been detected in some areas in zero sampling". Those caused by other sources of pollution. The research promoters have warned that "these have been left out of the monitoring area, but work on the part of the corresponding administration is necessary".

"Before we get to us"

Last year, the work started in 2019, in the year 2020, continued. The results have not yet been received. And this year, they're also about to collect data. They consider it necessary to independently control the pollution produced by the incinerator, since in the case of the incinerator of Zubieta the administration is limited to what is laid down in the legislation; in the case of the incinerator of Zubieta, to 4 sampling sessions of 6 hours a year, carried out at the moment and the company chosen by the interested party. In addition, "a few pollutants are measured".This causes "lack of transparency and mistrust", even more when it is known that there are tools to measure the take-off of the fireplace during 24 hours a day and 365 days a year o.De there is a need for independent control of the pollution of the incinerator. As they did this Saturday at noon in the Fogon, the intention is to "prove that before reaching us" the toxic products of the incinerator "accumulate in living beings". Sooner than later.