Archived press release

Foe lists toxics tips in birth defects row

8 August 1998

Friends of the Earth today listed the 400 sites most likely to be implicated in The Lancet'sreport on birth defects and landfill sites (1). Members of the public concerned about this shocking health survey can get more information by writing with a SAE to: Toxic Tips Campaign, Friends of the Earth, 26-28 Underwood St, London N1 7JQ. FOE will send a list of the sites, more details on the health survey, advice on how to get more information locally and tips on campaigning against this toxic threat.

Mike Childs, Senior Waste Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
“ This new research is shocking. It is horrific to hear that babies born near landfill sites are more likely to be born with birth defects. Friends of the Earth is determined to force the Government to stop industry producing toxic wastes. We are also committed to helping those local communities suffering from toxic tips and for that reason we have produced a 'Toxic Tips Campaign Pack'.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] The sites named by FOE were identified by respected environmental consultancy Aspinwall & Company.They are all 4* landfills whose licence permits them to take wastes which “present difficulties in handling”greater than household waste. The list was filtered to remove those sites where the “difficulty” is simple and nothing to do with toxic waste: e.g. silt & dredgings at British Waterways sites.

The remaining list may include some sites which only have wastes which would not be classified as toxic (e.g.bonded asbestos). Some 3* sites not on our list may include waste which would not be classified as toxic but have been dumped under a licence which includes “industrial wastes”.

The list does not include sites which are now closed or which now have tougher licences than were in force in previous years (during which time they may have had toxic wastes dumped there).

However, this is the best available approximation to a list of toxic waste sites in the UK. The fact that no perfect list exists illustrates exactly the problem: bad regulation and supervision means that no-one knows for sure where toxic wastes may be.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust