Campaigners reject plastics-to-fuel projects: but are they right?

Campaigns in the UK and Australia point to grassroots backlash against plastics-to-fuel sector that could be worth 1.5bn by 2024

"A rural residential community is not the right site to be testing this technology," says Naomi Joyce, a solicitor from Appley Bridge, Lancashire. Born and raised in the village, Joyce helped to lead its fight against a proposed waste-to-fuel plant, which had hoped to convert up to 6,000 tonnes of plastic rubbish into diesel, gasoline and other products each year.

Worried that harmful fumes would pollute their valley, locals rallied against the proposal - signing petitions, writing to the council and protesting in the street. In January last year, the project was shelved.