Friends of the Earth has produced this briefing sheet following
recent press coverage highlighting the dangers associated with toxic
waste dumps. It outlines recent research into this issue, suggests how
the public can get more information locally, and finally suggests how
you can help Friends of the Earth in its campaign against toxic pollution
and toxic waste dumps.
Many landfill sites - rubbish tips - accept hazardous chemical wastes
from industry. The UK produces about two million tonnesof the most hazardous
type of wastes (called “special” wastes) every year. About
half of this (nearly one million tonnes in 93/94 - the latest data available)
is simply dumped into landfill sites. Common sense alone might suggest
that this practice is crazy. But both the production and disposal of
toxic waste is big business, and vested interests believe that it should
continue. Other types of waste can also be a problem.
This briefing describes recent research which indicates that hazardous
waste landfill sites can pose a health hazard.
Higher rates of birth defects
The Lancet, Britain's best-known medical journal, has just published
a scientific paper which shows that mothers living within 3 km (nearly
2 miles) of a hazardous waste landfillsite are one third more likely
to have babies with birth defects.
A team of researchers picked 21 of these sites in Europe, some of which
are now closed to further dumping. They counted the numbers of any birth
defects registered in the area around the site over a number of years.
The figures showed that babies of mothers who live within 3 km of these
landfills were 33 per cent more likely to have defects than babies of
mothers living between 3 and 7 km away. The further away from the landfill
site that the mother lived, the smaller the likelihood of a child having
a birth defect.
Why are there more birth defects?
Researchers do not know what causes the birth defects. They did not
measure which chemicals might be leaking from the sites. However, they
believe that their findings are a cause for concern, and that other
pollution sources should also be studied. These sources include landfill
sites that take municipal waste (general household and commercial waste).
Even household waste can contain toxic chemicals, and municipal tips
can also produce pollution.
The scientists took into account other factors, such as the social
and economic background of the mother. But they still concluded that
these factors were not to blame for the excess of birth defects close
to the landfill sites.
What sort of birth defects?
The types of birth defects that appeared in greater numbers affect the
heart, nervous system (including spina bifida), and veins and arteries.
Researchers also found some increases in abnormalities of male genitals,
the abdomen and wind-pipe/throat, but theseincreases were more marginal:
the numbers were too small to tell whether they appeared by chance or
because of pollution from the dumps.
These abnormalities are rare, and the overall chance of a child having
a birth defect is still very low.
The researchers only looked at birth defects. They did not measure
other types of illnesses, such as for example cancers.
Scandalous lack of information
The Department of the Environment and the Environment Agency (a
Government-funded watchdog) has been unable to produce a national list
of landfill sites that currently accept hazardous or toxic waste. This
is scandalous in itself. Before 1974, landfill was almost unregulated
by Government, so in most cases no-one knows where hazardous waste may
have been dumped.
A limited right to know
Now the Environment Agency licenses and regulates landfill sites. Each
site has a licence - the Agency can show you a copy. It will state what
types of waste are allowed to go to a particular site, although this
may not indicate exactly what has actually gone into the tip. Nevertheless,
the Environment Agency ought to be able to give you some information
about toxic waste or a particular site because they see very detailed
information about “special waste” dumping.
It is very difficult, if not impossible, for individuals to get detailed
information about what has been dumped and which company produced it,
because the waste management industry regards the information as commercially
confidential. Friends of the Earth is both working to challenge the
lawsthat allow this secrecy, and working to make as much information
available as possible.
Our list of sites
Friends of the Earth had to pay a private consultancy (Aspinwalls &
Co, Shrewsbury) to draw up a list of landfill sites. The list shows
463 operating landfill sites which are those most likely to be accepting
difficult and toxic waste.
The list that we are providing does not necessarily cover all landfill
sites that might be causing a problem, and some of the sites listed
may not be a problem. The list does not include landfill sites that
are now closed. Below we suggest how you might find out more information
about specific sites.
The research in The Lancet did not name the sites in the study,
but stated that eight were in England and two at Glasgow. According
to the Times newspaper, the following sites were included:
Flitwick, Bedfordshire
Elstow, Bedfordshire
Burnhills Quarry, Blaydon, Tyne and Wear
Blue House Quarry, West Rainton, Co. Durham
Lumley Waste Disposal, Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham
Greenoakhill, Glasgow
Rutherglen, Glasgow
Further information
Environment Agency: their inquiry line is on 0645 333 111, and they
will connect you with a local office which can answer questions about
landfill in your area. They should be able to tell you if a particular
landfill site accepts toxic waste.
Your local authority's Environmental Health Department:
your local authority might also have information about a site. They
might have done health studies in your area, or might be monitoring
for specific toxic chemicals around the landfill, or know of other relevant
research. Ask if they have seen The Lancet's report, and ask
what they are going to do to investigate the risks at landfill sites
in their area.
Support groups
There are many support groups for individuals and their families with
specific health problems. Your GP or the Citizens' Advice Bureau should
be able to advise. If you have a computer and access to the internet,
many groups also provide information via the internet.
Other problems with landfill
Many landfill sites also cause other types of pollution too.
Many cause water pollution, and liquids seeping from the waste can
contaminate underground water or nearby streams. An Environment Agency
survey noted that one third of all known cases of pollution of groundwater
(water in the ground rather than running on the surface) were caused
by landfills.
Rotting waste also produces a gas known as “landfill gas”,
which is high in the explosive gas methane. This is very dangerous where
housing has been built on or near old landfills. Landfill sites can
continue to be a problem for many decades after they have closed. Methane
also contributes to global warming.
Many sites also attract rodents and other pests, and create litter.
Lorries moving wastecan also be a nuisance to local residents.
Friends of the Earth's campaign
The use, production and disposal of toxic chemicals cannot be carried
on indefinitely.
Friends of the Earth is calling for:
We want the names of the waste chemicals, names the companies which produce the waste, and the names the sites where the chemicals are disposed.
The postcards included with this briefing are addressed to the relevant
Government ministers and call on them to take action to achieve the
three goals listed above. Send them off today and you can help convince
the Government that we need real action now to prevent the terrible
health risks posed by landfills. Thank you!
FOE's Landfill Campaign Guide
If you want to campaign against an existing or planned a landfill site
in your area, we have produced a 120-page guide which may be of help.
It explains in detail the problems of landfill and why existing regulations
are inadequate, and will help you understand who to put the pressure
on. It is available at cost price £15 (inc. postage and packing)
from:
Friends of the Earth, Publications Despatch, 56-58 Alma Street, Luton
LU1 2PH. Please send a cheque or postal order made payableto Friends
of the Earth, or you can order by credit card on 01582 48229 (9am-4pm,
Monday- Friday.)
References
Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1997). Digest
of Statistics 1997. Published by the Stationery Office.
Dolk, H. et al (1998). “Risk of congenital anomalies near hazardous
waste landfill sites in Europe: the EUROHAZCON study.” The Lancet
352, pp 423 - 427.
Friends of the Earth (1997). The Landfill Campaign Guide.
Content
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Email: info@foe.co.uk
Website: www.foe.co.uk
Waste Team
Last modified: June 2001
