"Recycle or Burn" - FOE Cymru warning to Assembly

FOE Cymru has warned Assembly members that they must set high targets for recycling or face a rash of waste incinerators in Wales. At a presentation to a meeting in Barry today the group welcomed the Assembly's draft waste strategy but called for substantial improvements.

Julian Rosser, FOEC's Head of Campaigns made the call to a meeting of the Assembly's South East Wales Regional Committee, which is discussing the way forward for waste processing in Wales.

The group has called for the Assembly to aim for "zero waste" in the long term, set higher targets for recycling and implement a legal duty on local authorities to boost recycling in their areas.

Julian Rosser commented:

"Recycling is good for jobs, good for communities and good for the environment. The people of Wales don't want more incinerators or stinking tips. We have one of the worst recycling records in Europe but this strategy gives us a chance to break away from all that. If the Assembly is serious about boosting recycling then it must set higher targets and ensure that local councils play along."

Notes

A summary of Julian Rosser's presentation is attached.

National Assembly for Wales
South East Wales Regional Committee
13 July 2001

Managing Waste Sustainably

Summary of presentation.

Friends of the Earth Cymru welcomes the Consultation Paper as a significant step towards increasing Wales' currently dismal level of recycling.

However, to be a truly visionary document, and demonstrate unequivocally the Assembly's founding commitment to sustainable development, the strategy should include an aspiration to "zero-waste" in the long term and higher targets for recycling and composting in the next twenty years.

The Assembly should set targets of 50% by 2010 and 60% by 2015. This is in line with the House of Commons Select Committee on Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Report of 14 March 2001. Lower targets are likely to lead to a need for an unacceptable number of waste incinerators operating in Wales.

These targets are achievable. Canberra achieved a recycling rate of 59% within eight years. Switzerland and Germany are already achieving over 50% recycling. With commitment and resources Wales could do the same.

Jobs per 1 Million Tons of Waste Processed

This would have economic and social, as well as environmental benefits. A study in New York in the early nineties showed that many more jobs were created, per ton of waste processed, through recycling than by landfilling or incineration (see table).

It is vital that the Waste Strategy is taken seriously by decision makers at a local level. It is not adequate to "seek to agree targets on a voluntary basis". The Assembly should move, at the earliest possible opportunity, to introduce statutory targets.

We urge Assembly Members to get involved in developing this draft strategy to meet its potential as a world leading document.

Julian Rosser,
Head of Campaigns & Development,
Friends of the Earth Cymru.