Archived press release

Communities lobby Parliament over "toxic timebombs"

13 April 1999

Dozens of communities from across the UK will today converge on Parliament to express their anger about the UK's continuing reliance on landfill to deal with the huge quantities of waste we produce. The groups believe that such an approach leads to health problems such as birth defects, cancers and respiratory problems [1]. The lobby coincides with the introduction of a Private Members Bill by David Taylor MP [Labour, North West Leicestershire], which aims to set targets to limit the amount of municipal and toxic waste disposed of in landfill, and prevent the development of new landfills near people's homes[2]. Next month the Government is due to publish its new waste strategy, which FOE fears will be “profoundly disappointing” and “a victory for polluters and a defeat for public health”.

There has been intense pressure to reduce landfill in the UK:
. A new European Landfill Directive is soon to be agreed, part of which will force the UK to divert 65 per cent of biodegradable waste from landfill by 2020. The UK originally opposed the inclusion of targets in the Directive, but backed down under pressure from other member states.
. Research published in the Lancet in August 1998 suggested that babies born within 3 km of a hazardous waste landfill were a third more likely to be born with birth defects. The Government has commissioned Imperial College to carry out new research into this issue.

Despite these pressures it's likely that the waste strategy will continue to back landfill as the disposal route for most UK waste. It's also likely to signal an rise in incineration, also unpopular with communities due to health concerns. Friends of the Earth understands that DETR has been unsuccessful in its attempts to convince the DTI and Treasury that a more radical, pro-environment and pro-public health waste strategy is needed.

Mike Childs, Senior Waste Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:

“Communities across the county are angry about the health threats posed by landfill. The Government must recognise that these sites are toxic timebombs,which must be dealt with by a radical strategy to cut waste and reduce the number of landfills in the UK. Sadly, it seems that pressure from the DTI and Treasury will result in a victory for polluters and a defeat for public health and the environment.”

[1] The lobby of Parliament is being organised by CLOUT (Community Lobby Opposing Unhealthy Tipping) and will be held at 12 noon, 13th April in the Grand Committee Room, House of Commons. Contact Alison Sharpe on 01482 841368 or 07931 714898 (mobile) for more details.

[2] David Taylor's Bill, the Community Protection (Landfill) Bill, aims “to reduce landfill disposal of municipal and special [hazardous] wastes and to control the location of landfill sites; to require the assessment of the impact of proposed landfill sites on public health, the local economy, and connected purposes.” Contact David Taylor MP on 020 7219 4567 (House of Commons) or 01530 814372 (constituency)

Region Closed Open Total

Anglia 737 323 1,060
Midlands 1,064 337 1,401
North East 958 258 1,216
North West 887 236 1,123
Southern 538 174 712
South West 728 265 993
Thames 624 155 779
Wales 425 171 596

Total 5,961 1,919 7,880

Source: Environment Agency, July 1997

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust