Quentin Gargan

Five out of twelve families in West Cork burn rubbish - ESRI Report.

An ESRI study of 1200 households in West Cork revealed that five out of every twelve families burn some rubbish and that backyard burning increased after the introduction of pay-by-weight charges. Quentin Gargan, Green Party candidate for Cork South-West is calling for an urgent response to the findings.

“Burning plastic emits dioxins which are known to cause cancer, not just in people who inhale the smoke, but even in people consuming milk or meat from animals grazing in the locality” Gargan. “It is fruitless to fight against waste incinerators around the country if we are going to just burn the rubbish in our fireplaces in West Cork” he added.

Gargan is calling for a three pronged approach to the problem - provision of adequate waste and recycling facilities, public education, and enforcement of the relevant legislation. He is also critical of the different standards of service available in different areas. For example, Kinsale and Inishannon have a doorstep collection service for bottles, cardboard and plastic waste while other towns are still waiting for this service to be rolled out.

“Many remote areas have no waste collection facilities at all, and have to bring waste to the nearest landfill which may be impossible for older people or those who have to work during the hours that the dump is open” said Gargan, “the connection between burning rubbish and not having a collection service is borne out by the fact that rural farming households had the highest rate of burning at 57%.”

Gargan points to examples like Clonakilty and Dunmanway where recycling depots also take rubbish for a small fee. He believes that this service should be offered to all major towns for the benefit of people not covered by a wheelie bin service. “Currently it is planned to remove recycling facilities from some areas because they are being littered and in some cases rubbish is being dumped into recycling skips, but if waste in tagged bags and recycling materials could both be deposited in one location under proper supervision, recycling facilities would not be open to such abuse” he added.

According to the authors of the ESRI report, people appear to be unaware that burning rubbish is against the law. Dustbins with chimney lids are still on sale in many hardware stores, despite their use being illegal. Gargan believes that we urgently need a national advertising campaign to ensure that everyone is made aware of the dangers of burning our waste.

“We also need to be informed what can or cannot be recycled. For instance, it is difficult to get information on what to do with juice cartons and tetrapak cartons (which often cannot be processed along with normal paper and plastic)” he said.

The report showed that those who composted their food waste were able to dramatically reduce their waste costs, but Gargan believes there should also be more widespread information for the public on how to compost waste in their back gardens.

“Once people have been made aware that burning rubbish is both unhealthy and illegal, there should be an appropriate inspectorate which would engage in random checks as well as responding to complaints. At present there is a confidential helpline (1890 335599) where people can report illegal dumping or backyard burning” said Gargan. “However, people are often reluctant to report their neighbours for obvious reasons. We need an inspectorate that carries out random checks as well as responding to complaints” said Gargan. “Dog inspectors work on this basis, but waste burning is a serious health hazard and should receive the resources required to ensure that it is brought to a halt” he added.

On a positive note, the report also shows that 92% of households now recycle and that 80% increased their recycling after pay-by-weight charges were introduced.

“If pay-by-weight is to be part of a comprehensive waste management strategy, we must provide supervised recycling centres, composting centres and offer comprehensive information for households” he concluded.

ENDS

For further information please call Quentin Gargan on 027 52773

Photos available from http://quentingargan.com/press-downloads-and-photos

The full report is available at http://www.esri.ie.:80/publications/latest_publications/view/index.xml?id=2186 and was prepared by Susan Scott and Dorothy Watson for the EPA. Ph 01 8632000

Background Information

One of the most harmful pollutants released when rubbish is burnt is dioxin. Dioxin is a known carcinogen and is associated with birth defects. Dioxin can be inhaled directly or deposited on soil, water and crops where it becomes part of the food chain.

A common compound given off during open burning of trash and leaves is benzopyrene, a known carcinogen and ingredient in cigarette smoke. Benzopyrene is suspected to be a major factor in lung cancer. One study has shown that open burning fire smoke contains 350 times as much benzopyrene as cigarette smoke.

Open burning of plastics, or polyvinyl chloride (PVCs), can produce hydrogen chloride gas, or hydrochloric acid, which can cause fluid buildup in the lungs and possible ulceration of the respiratory tract.

The visible smoke from burning is composed of tiny particles, called particulates, which contain toxic pollutants. If inhaled, these microscopic particles can reach deep into the lungs and remain there for months or even years. Breathing particulates increases the chances of respiratory infection, can trigger asthma attacks, and causes other problems such as coughing, wheezing, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

Carbon monoxide is generated from the incomplete combustion of waste. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas which prevents oxygen from being absorbed by the blood and lungs. It is especially dangerous when breathed by young children with immature lungs, the elderly, and people with chronic heart conditions or lung diseases.