Plaid MEP Jill Evans has criticised a deal between European governments and the European Parliament which have watered down new laws on waste.

The Parliament had originally adopted a much stronger position but it had been blocked by governments. The Plaid MEP does not believe that the new agreement will effectively tackle the problem of Europe's increasing waste mountain.

The MEP had strongly opposed reclassifying waste incinerators (with a certain efficiency standard) as energy recovery rather than waste disposal. This change will make incineration appear environmentally friendly and make it easier to attract investment. This would directly undermine recycling.

In Wales, for the year 2006-07, municipal waste alone accounted for 1.8 million tonnes of waste, across the EU the figure is 1.8 billion tonnes of waste produced every year. The figure for Wales represented a three per cent fall on the previous year and thirty per cent of this was recycled or composted.

Commenting after the vote, the Plaid MEP who had led opposition to the weak compromise, said:

"This is the original wasted opportunity. I'm appalled that European governments, including the UK, of course, have opposed these badly needed proposals. Europe's growing waste mountain is simply unsustainable and we need action now to tackle the problem. But instead of legally binding waste reduction and recycling targets, we have weak, non-binding targets and the promise of a few 'studies'.

"At the same time, waste incineration with a certain efficiency level will be reclassified as energy recovery. This promotes incineration, a waste-hungry technology, which is counterproductive to any effort to tackle the waste mountains at their source and create a recycling society.

"This is a major issue for Wales. Campaign groups across the country protest about problem landfill sites and incinerators. Yet when the opportunity arises to reduce the amount of waste we produce and increase the amount we recycle, so that we can stop throwing waste into holes in the ground, governments are not up to the challenge.

"The behaviour of the British government which has steadfastly opposed tougher waste laws once again shows that Labour's green credentials are no more than skin deep."

"This was an opportunity to do something about climate change. An ambitious European waste policy could hugely reduce CO2 emissions, but the opportunity was missed because of the lack of political will."

Diwedd/Ends

NOTE:

MEPs meeting in Strasbourg voted at second reading to approve the compromise proposal reached between the Parliament and EU governments, rejecting amendments tabled by Ms Evans to introduce binding targets for waste reduction and discourage incineration.

Jill Evans MEP is Deputy President of Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales.