Archived press release

FOE welcomes coalite dioxin prosecution

22 January 1996

Friends of the Earth has welcomed the successful prosecution of Coalite Products Ltd following emissions of extremely toxic dioxins [1] from the Company's incineration plant at Bolsover, Derbyshire[2].

Roger Lilley, Industry and Pollution Campaigner for FOE, said today:

"We are pleased that HMIP has taken this action but this is only the first step. Serious questions remain - who is going to pay for the clean up? The livelihood and health of local farmers and other residents has been put at risk - is there sufficient insurance cover to compensate?"

Until 1976, the firm had been sending its waste for destruction at Cleanaway's facility in Ellesmere Port, but it apparently decided that it could do the job more cost-effectively itself and built its own incinerator.When the incinerator was registered by the Alkali Inspectorate (the predecessor to HMIP) in 1976, the only requirements specified in writing to the company were the stack height, the hydrogen chloride emission rate, and the waste output.

FOE regrets that last year the National Rivers Authority decided not to take action against Coalite over dioxin contamination of the river Doe Lea in Derbyshire. Although the NRA found in 1991 the highest levels of dioxins ever recorded in river sediments, it took the decision not to remove the contaminated sediments but to allow the dioxins to disperse downstream.

ENDS

NOTES

[1] Dioxin is probably the most toxic synthetic chemical known to science. It is an extremely potent carcinogen, causing an increase in cancer risk with infinitesimal doses. Recent research indicates that it is dioxin's effect on reproduction, child development and the immune system that are of the greatest concern. The United States EPA are expected to publish their final version of a major dioxin review this spring. Their preliminary results indicate that there is no safe level and that effects on the population are occurring at or close to background exposures and could cause up to 3% of all cancers.

[2] See HMIP (Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution Press Release 21.2.1996 HM374): Coalite were prosecuted for failing to use best practicable means to prevent the emission into the atmosphere of noxious or offensive fumes from the premises. At the hearing at Leicester Crown Court the comapny pleaded guilt to the charge and were fined 150,000 with costs of 300,000 also awarded against the Company. The charge related to the operation of the incinerator at the works between 1st November 1989 to 30 November 1991. During that period the incinerato had been operated by the Company to dispose of chlorophenolic waste residues, which were contaminated with dioxins. The excessive emissions came to light when the Ministry of Agriculture undertook analysis of dioxins in milk from cows on farms in the area.

A briefing sheet on the toxicity of dioxins is available from Friends of the Earth.

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