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27 August 2004
Friends of the Earth has reacted angrily to news that recyclable domestic waste from households in the north east has been sent to India for recycling. The material has been reportedly [1] sent abroad by waste company SITA [2]. Northumberland County Council says that the material must be recycled locally [3].
Friends of the Earth opposes recyclable material being sent abroad because:
Transporting the material thousands of extra miles wastes energy and will create unnecessary pollution, including climate-changing carbon dioxide;
It should be helping to create jobs in the north east;
The poorest communities tend to suffer the worst environmental damage. It will be extremely difficult for SITA to be sure of the conditions for workers in the Indian factory where this waste ends up, or the standard of the technology used.
Friends of the Earth's recycling campaigner Claire Wilton said:
"Waste produced in the north east should be recycled locally, not sent thousands of miles to a developing country. Exporting waste to India for recycling wastes energy, causes unnecessary pollution and deprives local people of jobs. SITA must not put profits before people and the environment. Northumberland's waste should be recycled locally."
Friends of the Earth is concerned that this may only be the tip of the iceberg. How much UK domestic waste is exported abroad, and where is it going?
2. BBC north east report.
3. The following statement has been issued by Northumberland County Council:
Northumberland County Council has instructed its waste management contractors SITA to stop sending the county's waste to India following reports that materials were being shipped overseas.
Council Leader Michael Davey said:
"We are appalled that this has happened. We have only just discovered it and we have acted immediately. We will not tolerate this under any circumstances."
"We will meet our recycling targets in the county but we won't do it by exporting waste overseas. Waste is a worldwide problem - it won't be solved if rich countries ship their problems to poorer countries."
The council has informed the Environment Agency.
Northumberland, in partnership with the District Councils, has an improving record in recycling, having already exceeded the Government's household waste recycling target of 10% in 2003/04, with a figure of 17%. Figures for the period April to June 2004 show further improvement, with 24.7% of Northumberland's household waste being recycled or composted.
For further information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
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