Friends of the Earth Birmingham Action Briefing Aug 98/Sep 98

Waste and Recycling

Birmingham Campaign Update

Our campaign to improve Birmingham’s record on waste reduction continues. The articles written in the April/May and June/July editions of Action Briefing have certainly created quite a response from the public. Indeed Councillor Margaret Wells, Chair, Environmental Services Committee claims in a letter to a member of the public to being 'inundated' with letters about the subject.

We are also grateful to a number of MPs and Councillors who have also 'taken up the baton' and assisted this cause. In particular, Lynne Jones MP for Selly Oak wrote to a FOE member, “with regard to Tyseley Incinerator, I recently contacted Birmingham FOE expressing my support, in principle, of their calls for an improved waste management policy in Birmingham which includes more ambitious targets for recycling. I share their concerns that relying too heavily on incineration breaks the spirit of Local Agenda 21 agreements, poses a possible health risk and shifts the focus away from waste reduction.

Our objectives are, as stated in the previous two editions of Action Briefing, in line with London’s recent pronouncements. As such they are both reasonable and attainable. In particular FOE would like Birmingham to achieve the national recycling targets of 25% by 2000 and 40% by 2005 without including energy recovery from burning waste at the incinerator.

Many thanks to all those who have written about improving recycling facilities for aluminium cans and plastic bottles. You may also wish to consider whether more could be done regarding the following:

• Furniture collection and reuse schemes
• Recycling and reuse of computer equipment and parts initiative
• Recycling of metal cans (in addition to aluminium)
• Safe disposal and recycling of car, mobile phone and household batteries (containing dangerous pollutants)
• Support for local businesses e.g. nappy laundry (nappies constitute a significant proportion of domestic waste and the plastic in disposable nappies does not degrade) etc. etc.

Councillor Margaret Wells has confirmed in writing that the recycling rate for 1997 was only 6.3%. We remain hopeful that all this pressure will lead to the Council talking to us and offering a genuine commitment to improve its waste management. FOE looks forward to frank, open and honest discussion on the subject.

Please refer to the two previous editions of Action Briefing which explain the current situation in Birmingham more fully and will provide you with all the information you need should you wish to express your views to the authorities. Copies can be obtained by calling the Warehouse.

Your actions really can make a difference.

Paul Webb