Archive for the Safety in Waste and Rubbish Disposal (SWARD) Category
Wingmoor Farm hazardous landfill site, Bishop’s Cleeve, has been selected to represent the UK on a map of toxic waste “hot spots” around the world.
Download – Map of toxic waste “hot spots” around the world [PDF]
The creators say this map “presents a range of examples from every continent where Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in solid wastes present risks to human health and the environment.”
The map will be presented in Geneva this week (4-8 May) when the 4th conference of the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is held. The Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from these chemicals
POPs accumulate in the environment and cannot be broken down. DDT has been found in the bloodstream decades after it was banned, even in communities where it was never used. This is a particular concern during pregnancy.
Incineration of waste is one the major creators of dioxins and furans, members of the “dirty dozen” worst POPs.
SWARD’s consultant Alan Watson, Public Interest Consultants, will be presenting the map created by the International Persistent Organic Pollution Elimination Network (IPEN) yesterday (6th May).
Alan Watson said:
Wingmoor Farm is a major dioxin hotspot – comparable with many of the worst contaminated sites around the world. The Stockholm Convention promised to eliminate these extremely dangerous chemicals and the Government should make urgent steps to honour that commitment.
Campaign group SWARD were not surprised to receive the news that Wingmoor Farm had been highlighted. Spokeswoman Barbara Farmer said:
This is shocking news for local residents. SWARD has said for years that dumping waste full of these toxins so close to our homes is a risk to our health. Now that view is being supported at an international level.
The official website of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are a group of chemicals that are very toxic and can cause cancer and other adverse health effects. POPs are persistent in the environment and travel vast distances via air and water. POPs are organic chemical compounds which bioaccumulate in animals and humans. These pollutants are primarily the products and by-products of human industrial processes.
- Incinerator Air Pollution Control residues, containing dioxins and furans, from all over the UK are landfilled at Wingmoor Farm.
- Only 12 sites in the UK are permitted to accept this waste.
- Planning consent for Grundon’s landfills at Wingmoor Farm expires on 12th May 2009. Grundon intend to apply for a further 20 years.
Its happening all over the UK. Telford PAIN working with Safe Waste in Shropshire, (Sherwood Forest, Rainworth) PAIN working with NAIL to host the UKWIN AGM in Nottingham, and now Gloucestershire Friends of the Earth Network (GFOEN) have joined forces with Safety in Waste and Rubbish Disposal (SWARD), and local residents of Javelin Park area, to demonstrate outside the Industry Day Conference where the Gloucestershire County Council will outline their £646 million PFI contract to the waste industry for the first round of bidding. Continue Reading “Campaigners join forces” »
John Beattie delivered a PowerPoint presentation (attached) prepared by Barbara Farmer (SWARD’s External Liaison Coordinator). The presentation stresses that emissions monitoring is a crucial issue! Visit GAIN website (http://www.no-incinerator.org.uk) and follow link to EU Emissions Register. Also visit Environment Agency website for Polluting Emissions Register, and the EA’s “What’s in your backyard?” search facility. Download SWARD’s full presentation [ZIP]
