The European Commission has announced today that it is to begin infringement action against the UK government over the Nantygwyddon Landfill Site. In response to a petition presented by Jill Evans MEP to the European Parliament in 1998, it has investigated the site and concluded that European laws have been broken.

Jill Evans MEP said:

"I am delighted that my petition has resulted in this decision. European law states that waste has to be disposed of without creating a nuisance and without causing damage to health or the environment. At Nantygwyddon that has clearly not been the case. The government will now have to provide the Commission with information as to how they intend to solve the continuing problems and make the site safe. If they don’t do so, they could eventually be taken to the European Court of Justice."

"I hope that the government will respond positively and make the funding available to remediate the Nantygwyddon site. This will run into millions of pounds but has to be balanced against the cost of children’s’ health."

"Plaid Cymru-run Rhondda Cynon Taff Council have proved that they take their environmental responsibilities seriously and today’s decision shows that the European Parliament and Commission do likewise. They are not afraid to take action to this end. We are now looking to the British government to match that commitment by ensuring that this waste stops polluting our community. The only way to do that is by funding the clean up of the site."

A copy of the original petition presented by Jill Evans MEP is attached below.

Petition to the European Parliament - Landfill Waste Sites

In the light of scientific research and increasing public concern in surrounding communities, I call upon the European Parliament to urgently address the human misery and environmental degradation caused by hazardous and non-Hazardous Waste Sites.

Recent Scientific Evidence on the risk of congenital abnormalities near hazardous waste sites - the EUROHAZCON Study - reported a 33% increased risk of congenital abnormalities amongst children with mothers living within 3 kilometers of landfills.

I draw the parliament’s attention to the higher than average cases of congenital abnormalities and other health problems in communities surrounding so called non-hazardous sites. For example, around the Nantygwyddon Landfill Site in Rhondda, Wales, birth defects between 1990 and 1996 were twice the norm, gastroschisis cases were almost ten times above average and therapeutic abortions (1992-96( were three times higher than expected.

I call upon the European Parliament to emphasise the duties imposed upon Member States by Article 4 of the Waste Framework Directive; consider the scientific evidence and hold public hearings on environmental hazards associated with all landfill sites; to fund research on the effects of non-toxic landfills; to expedite the implementation of the Directive on Civil Liability for Environmental Damage, and to further promote more environmentally friendly alternatives to landfill as the principal means of waste disposal.

Presented by: Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Councillor Jill Evans.

Diwedd/Ends.