“Macabre” Tesco burns waste meat for energy

Tesco’s plans to incinerate 5,000 tonnes of waste meat per year have been branded “macabre” by animal rights group Viva.

Viva said the scheme, which will generate enough electricity to power 600 homes, is “a sad indictment of modern life”.

Justin Kerswell, Viva campaigns manager, said the amount of meat being thrown away by Tesco is a sign of the supermarket’s “greed and indifference”.

“To turn this wasted meat into power might seem like a good idea at first, but you have to ask yourself why is so much left over and why are so many animals dying to provide this excess?

“Whatever savings are made by turning this meat into energy is more than voided by the huge amount of greenhouses gases generated by the farming and production of the meat in the first place.

“Surely killing fewer animals in the first place should be the aim.

“Tesco should take a long hard look at their wasteful practices.”

Households whose electricity is being produced by waste meat should be informed and given a choice to opt-out, Viva said.

Tesco said incinerating the meat is preferable to landfill.

Executive director Lucy Neville-Rolfe said the supermarket has a “responsibility to provide leadership” in eco-friendly practices.