Friends of the Earth Birmingham Action Briefing Apr/May 98

Tyseley Incinerator - Health Hazards

While the rest of the western industrialised world recognises the dangers of incinerating waste Britain lags behind. So where does Birmingham stand in all this? Well the city that played a major part in the development of the industrial revolution has a waste minimisation record that is to progress what the abacus is to information technology.

At present Birmingham sends virtually all waste to landfill or for incineration. These may be convenient methods of waste disposal but are very outdated and inefficient. The London Planning Advisory Council (LPAC) has recently recommended a moratorium on building new incineration facilities and the Royal Commission has similarly advocated a hierarchy in which landfill and incineration should be regarded as methods of last resort.

The burning of waste merely results in toxins being emitted into the air or ending up in the food chain via ash sent to landfill. Incinerators, and in particular the release of dioxins into the atmosphere, when plastics are burned, have been linked with many health risks including the following:

• cancer
• reduced sperm counts
• respiratory problems
• immune system damage

FOE have additional concerns that UK limits for emissions are far higher than in many other countries. The Environmental Protection Agency in the USA has recommended safe levels of dioxins, to minimise the risk of cancer, at one thousandth the current UK level. Also the under resourced Environment Agency is unlikely to be in a position to monitor effectively.

The major concern is that while Birmingham continues to increase its volume of waste (by approx. 4% p.a.) and landfill facilities diminish, Birmingham may take the easy and convenient option of trying to increase incineration facilities. Though burying and burning may be convenient it is not cost efficient and is damaging to the environment.

Liaison to date with the Council has not been encouraging. Even by the Council's own estimates Birmingham's recycling record will fall well short of national targets (see "Recycling" article), which in turn are well short of what is being achieved elsewhere.

Birmingham needs to put a realistic cap on the volume of waste being sent for incineration. In this respect it would make sense to use the LPAC guideline of a 20% reduction in total waste based on 1995 levels. This cap on waste sent for burying and burning would be accommodated by reducing waste and increasing the volumes being recycled. Waste should also be viewed by category to ensure those types which create the most pollution e.g. plastics are given priority status for a reduction and recycling programme. It is interesting to note that despite the dangers Birmingham does not recycle any plastics.

FOE must continue to be very positive about working with the Council to try to help improve the volume of waste being recycled through an awareness and education initiative. However, no matter how successful, this in itself will only lead to slight improvements i.e. the recycling rate will still be well short of national targets. What is really required is a genuine commitment from the Council to a policy of reducing and recycling waste. This will only happen if the public and organisations like FOE bring sufficient pressure to bear. If truly committed to such policies Birmingham Council should take action to try to increase the market for recycled goods. Ideally an example could be set by the Council insisting all major suppliers have thorough environmental policies and be EMAS registered (EMAS is the Eco Management Audit Scheme). From past discussions with the Council it is clear that they will only respond to any FOE proposals and improve their waste minimisation record if public pressure is maintained.

• Phone or write to Councillor Margaret Wells, Chair, Environmental Services, Birmingham City Council, Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham phone or write to Ian Coghill, Assistant Director, Environmental Services, Birmingham City Council, Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham.

• Write to your MP.

• Write to your local councillors (info. available from FOE) ask for information about the results of monitoring the levels of toxins in emissions.

• Ask Birmingham City Council for information as to all (not just matters on public record) concerns that have been expressed by the Environment Agency to Tyseley Waste Disposal Company following any inspections to date.

• Ask Birmingham City Council for a commitment to put a cap on the (maximum) volumes of waste being sent for incineration while improving the amount of waste being recycled to better national government targets; express your concerns about the health hazards; request better legislation to put pressure on producers and retailers to reduce levels of waste.

• Ask FOE for further information (fact sheets are available) discuss your concerns with friends, neighbours and relatives.

It would be good if Birmingham City Council were to comply with the plans stated in its own document "Proposed Waste Minimisation and Recycling Strategy" (1994) as well as copying best practice elsewhere.

N.B. - there is a place for incineration as part of an integrated waste minimisation strategy i.e. after reduction and recycling policies have been optimised.

Paul Webb Industry, Pollution & Waste Campaigner