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Birth Defects and Land Fill

16 Aug 2001

Friends of the Earth is calling for government action to reduce the use of landfill sites, following research published in the British Medical Journal today that suggests that babies born within 2km of a landfill sites are more likely to have birth defects than babies born elsewhere. Eighty per cent of the population live within 2km of a landfill site.

The government-funded research, carried out by the Small Area Health Statistics Unit at Imperial College, follows an earlier report in the Lancet, published in 1998, which suggested a link between birth defects and hazardous waste landfill sites. There are more than 300 landfill sites in England and Wales licensed to accept toxic waste and thousands that accept other wastes. The SAHSU research for the first time suggests that landfill sites taking other wastes may also be a risk. A list of toxic waste sites is available from FOE.

Although the research is not conclusive, Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to take precautionary action by reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill. The Government's waste strategy currently does little to reduce the amount of hazardous and industrial waste sent to landfill,only setting a non-statutory target to reduce the amount by 15 per cent by 2005. They have however set a statutory target to reduce the amount of domestic waste going to landfill by 67 per cent by 2015. Friends of the Earth is calling for further action:

•  a higher statutory target for reducing industrial waste going to landfill,
•  the annual increase in the landfill tax to at least double,
• and the introduction of a higher rate landfill tax for the disposal of hazardous waste.

Mike Childs, Campaigns Director at Friends of the Earth, said:

     “This study adds to our fears that If you are born near a landfill site you are more likely to be born with a birth defect. Although the authors rightly say we need further research, the Government must not use this as an excuse to delay action. They must reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. Gordon Brown should increase the landfill tax with a higher rate for hazardous waste. Michael Meacher must introduce a statutory target to eliminate toxic waste dumping in landfill sites.”

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