Birmingham Friends of the Earth Action Briefing Dec 98/Jan 99

Waste & Recycling

Those members who read Action Briefing regularly will know that we have been campaigning throughout the year, with public support, to get a commitment from Birmingham City Council not to increase incineration facilities and to improve its record on waste reduction and recycling.

There have been considerable developments since the last copy of Action Briefing. The most important event was a meeting with two Birmingham City Councillors from the Environmental Services Committee and a number of senior Council officials. Discussions were held to "clear the air" and establish the precise positions of both parties. This meeting was made possible by the tremendous public response to our requests to write to your MPs and the Council. We thank you for all your efforts.

FOE's position remains the same. However, we have now had the opportunity to express our view to parties we had not previously met formally. It is hoped new relationships will be forged with an atmosphere of openness and co-operation. Following the meeting it is important to restate our objectives:

The position of the Council is that it has to deal with the existing problems it faces. Namely:

• a British culture which historically, in most areas, has not been geared to treat waste as a resource
• the volume of waste in Birmingham is increasing at an alarming rate (currently 7% + p.a.)
• only 6.3% of Birmingham's waste was recycled last year. The Council's position is outlined in the guest feature on page 3.

other developments: Composting

Approximately 30% of waste can be taken out of the waste stream for composting, thus avoiding the costs of disposal. The Council has been successful in promoting a subsidised home compost bin scheme. We understand that so far more than 9,000 households now have these bins. However, with a population of one million Birmingham requires a much more extensive promotion to be truly effective. Why do we continue to pay to bury and/or (inefficiently) burn a resource that is good for our gardens?

If you would like to support the Council's initiative please phone the Recycling team on 0121 303 1932 or 1935.

other developments: Newspaper Recycling Bill

For recycling to be effective it is essential that a demand exists for recycled products. FOE is advocating nationally that Newspapers should use 80% minimum recycled paper. We would also like Birmingham City Council to use its influence to support this worthy Bill. You can also help by writing to the Council and/or your MP asking them to confirm their commitment and support.

other developments: Kerbside Recycling Costs VS. Incineration Costs

Environmental standards are continually increasing, resulting in higher standards of pollution control. Also landfill and incineration are becoming more expensive. A new Incineration Directive will tighten standards further and increase the costs of incineration by "perhaps £9.00 per tonne" (per a recent FOE briefing). Similarly, the possibility of an incineration tax has been mooted by Customs and Excise and also recommended by the 1998 House of Commons Environment Committee report into Sustainable Waste Management. A research report commissioned by the European Commission suggested that kerbside recycling will be the cheapest waste management option in all member states soon after 2001.

So where do Birmingham FOE go from here?

It is important that we recognise the problems that exist and that all parties i.e. FOE, the Council and the public all share a responsibility to improve matters.

Unless significant steps are taken very soon to reduce and recycle waste then the likelihood that Birmingham will favour additional incineration facilities to dispose of waste will be great. This would be an environmental disaster and the loss of a great economic resource.

National FOE has recently published and launched a book "Recycling Works", which summarises case studies of best practice in Britain, Europe and the rest of the World. Birmingham FOE will analyse these and other guidelines to produce a plan for discussion with the Council about the future in Birmingham. It is hoped that our recent meeting will make these discussions possible.

What can You do?

As per the last newsletter please send the enclosed standard letters to your MPs and Councillors. It really does make a difference.

The Message:

If your councillor and/or MP have not specified their agreement with, and support for, the above objectives please, please, please write to them as soon as possible. I suggest it is advisable to restrict your letters to these issues alone in order to avoid receiving confusing responses which give the greatest emphasis to other matters and thus do not provide the commitment required. This simple and reasonable message is probably the best and only way to effect change in policy.

All necessary information regarding the issues is contained in the Action Briefing issues from April/May to date (Contact Birmingham FOE Reception at The Warehouse for info -Ed). Relevant contact addresses and phone numbers are as below:

• phone or write to any councillor on the Environmental Services Sub-Committee, Birmingham City Council, Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham B1 1BB. Names can be provided by phoning FOE on 0121 632 6909 or the Council on 0121-303 9944
• write to your MP at The House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA
• write to your local councillor (phone us for further details)
• ask FOE for further information, our leaflet "Tyseley Incinerator the Inhibitor of Recycling" and national FOE's leaflet "Incineration - a Burning Issue" are available upon request
• discuss your concerns with friends, neighbours and relatives. Ask them to write as well. Also FOE will be happy to talk about the subject to any groups

After you have written your letter:

If the response you receive is non-committal please continue to request a commitment of support. Once you have obtained a definite commitment of support, or otherwise, please forward a copy of the response to Paul Webb.

Thanks for your continued support in this campaign.

Paul Webb