Archived press release

Most landfill sites failing landfill standards

20 December 2002

Friends of the Earth today urged the Government to take action after the Environment Agency revealed that more than half of the 2,264 landfill sites in England and Wales are failing to comply with waste management licence conditions. The Agency revealed that:

More than half (56 per cent) of landfill sites assessed are failing to comply with licence conditions;
14 per cent are nowhere near compliance.

Friends of the Earth’s Waste campaigner Mike Childs said:

“Communities living near landfills won’t be surprised to hear that most sites in England and Wales are failing to meet their licence conditions. Many already suffer the misery of smell, noise and pollution on a daily basis. The Government must do more to protect the public from poorly managed landfills by providing the Environment Agency with the resources it needs to force these sites to comply with the rules. Those that fail should be heavily fined.

“The Government must also do more to ensure that less of the world’s diminishing natural resources are dumped in holes in the ground and far more gets recycled. It can do this by supporting Joan Ruddock’s Private Member’s Bill which aims to ensure that every household has access to a doorstep recycling service. The Doorstep Recycling Bill will be discussed in Parliament early next year. “

A Friends of the Earth report, Communities Speak Out on Waste, tells of the nightmare of living next door to poorly-controlled landfills and their fears of incinerators being built in their neighbourhoods.

For further information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

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Archived press release

Most landfill sites failing landfill standards

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