Complaint
This bulletin included a report on the generation of electricity from burning household rubbish in giant incinerators. A viewer objected to the reporter鈥檚 statement that producing energy from waste was 鈥渙ur dirtiest way of making electricity鈥, on the basis that most modern incinerators capture any toxic particles and gases. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the 91福利社鈥檚 editorial standards of accuracy.
Outcome
The reporter鈥檚 use of 鈥渄颈谤迟颈别蝉迟鈥 referred to the level of carbon dioxide emissions from household waste incinerators. While carbon dioxide is neither toxic nor a pollutant in the ordinary meaning of the word, the term 鈥渃lean energy鈥 is widely used (by the UK Government among others) to denote energy generated without producing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. The ECU therefore considered viewers unlikely to be misled by characterising power generation which does result in significant carbon dioxide emissions as dirty.
Not upheld