Slimming champ AM calls for action to reduce Wales' waste-line

2.35.04pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 19th Jun 2006

Wales is in danger of drowning under its own rubbish

Wales is in danger of drowning under its own rubbish - that's the worrying warning from Welsh Liberal Democrats today.

Despite a marked increase in recycling rates across Wales, figures show that in 2004-5 the amount of waste going to landfill also rose. Per person, figures for landfill rose from 518kg to 537kg. We create enough waste in Wales to fill the Millennium Stadium every 20 days.

Mike German, Assembly leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: "The message is starting to get through to people about the importance of recycling and composting. Yet, the annual report on Sustainable Development shows that we are accelerating the rate at which we are filling our dumps.

"The National Audit Office suggests we will run out of space in our landfill sites by 2010, although the Environment Agency has warned it could be much sooner. There is a real danger that Wales will be drowning in its own rubbish, if the government does not step up on this issue. When I asked Carwyn Jones about this last week his answer was complacent.

Mr German called on Ministers to get tough with local authorities and business to drive down waste.

"We need to ensure that councils promote even more recycling - weekly kerbside collections of the widest possible range of goods. We need to work with business - especially the construction and demolition world - to reduce their impact on landfill sites. The government has a Business and Environment Action Plan, but it isn't giving it a high enough priority.

"We must find ways to encourage entrepreneurs to seek opportunities in converting things that are unwanted, unloved or unneeded in to new and desireable goods.

"And we need to cut packaging. We must work with producers and retailers to reduce the burden of packaging. Mick Bates will be calling on Wednesday for a Sustainable Supermarket Forum, and this is precisely the kind of issues where concerted action from major retailers could make a big difference.

"The looming crisis can also be seen as an opportunity. We could use it to drive up green jobs, to improve the profitability of companies by reducing their waste, to save energy - and cash - both at work and at home. Instead, Labour are failing to deliver.

"This green agenda should be at the core of government. The Government of Wales Act puts sustainable development at the heart of all we do - but too often, this Labour Assembly Government is looking for a heart by-pass.

"On subsidised air links, the M4 Relief Road and now the Severn Barrage, the government has proved itself keener on development, than sustainability. It is missing a golden opportunity, by failing to recognise a green one."

Notes:

Mike German won the Weight Watchers award for the AM losing the most weight earlier in the year.