The whole city is discussing the incinerator. There is no building permit yet.

• The Municipal Heating Company in Piekary Śląskie has submitted an application to amend the spatial development plan to enable the construction of a waste incineration installation at the local heating plant.
• Some residents and councillors of Piekary are against the investment.
• Meetings and consultations with residents are planned.

For several years now, the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis has been preparing to build a waste incinerator, and ideas for building installations in specific locations have also been regularly raised. Two weeks ago, the Municipal Heating Company in Piekary Śląskie submitted an application to change the spatial development plan to allow for the construction of a waste incinerator .

MPEC's decision immediately sparked a reaction from residents who oppose the investment. In response , the city claims that it does not plan to build the installation at the moment.

Currently, there is no possibility of building a waste incinerator in Piekary Śląskie. The spatial development plan does not allow for the construction of this type of facility. Any consent to build an incinerator is a decision of the city council, not the president. A change to the plan is necessary, which can only be made by the city council, at the moment no one has taken such an initiative

- explains the city hall.

The city explains that MPEC presented its idea of ​​building an incinerator at the session at the request of the PiS councilors' club. Only the PiS councilors' club and MP Jerzy Polaczek talked to the company about this project. President Sława Umińska-Kajdan stated that such an important, but also controversial and difficult project can only be implemented above political divisions and with the consent of all councilors, meanwhile - as she assessed - they are divided, so no one is dealing with this project.

The local government also explains that President Sława Umińska-Kajdan is not taking a stance on the installation - something that residents had complaints about - "because it is not her competence".

"It is not taking action on this matter because, given the position of the councilors, it is not interested in this project. According to the current legal status, it is not possible to build an incinerator in Piekary Śląskie," the city council argues.

Vice President Krzysztof Turzański also explained in the media that, in accordance with the law in force, it is not possible to build an incineration plant in Piekary Śląskie today.

- The topic may come back, however, because similar facilities will be built in neighboring cities - there is talk of locations in Radzionków or Bytom (especially at ul. Brzezińska). This raises questions from councilors as to whether it would not be better to implement such an investment here and reap the benefits - he said.

Turzański added that MPEC is not formally giving up on the project - it is announcing an information campaign and meetings with councillors and residents, as well as trips to similar existing facilities in the country, so that "everyone can see for themselves that the devil is not as black as he is painted".

The deputy mayor emphasizes that the city mayor considers the incinerator investment to be important and necessary - however, he is the executor of the will and decisions of the councilors.

- If there is no agreement beyond divisions - there will be no investment. If the councilors present a common position - the project can be processed, if not - it will remain in the drawer. The movement in this matter now belongs to the councilors - noted Krzysztof Turzański.

As he added, the topic of building such facilities always arouses emotions and gives rise to various kinds of political games.

- In order to avoid this, President Sława Umińska-Kajdan, together with the Civic Club of Councillors, announced unequivocally: either we implement this task together, beyond divisions, or we do not take up this topic at all. Given the lack of political will, this means that no one is taking up this topic today - he informed.