Waste to Energy looks like a green solution to our waste crisis, and a neat way to solve energy prices at the same time. But Friends of the Earth Melbourne is concerned that the strong interest both the ALP and the Coalition are showing in Waste to Energy fails to take into account serious problems, such as health issues and future impacts on our recycling.

Craig is highly dubious of Waste to Energy as a solution for Australia- he found that most “recycled” soft plastics in Sweden actually ended up incinerated!  See 26 minute doco here.

On Tuesday 19 March at 8:30 am, hundreds of Victorians will gather at the steps of state parliament to say “if you send our recycling to landfill, we will bring it to you.” Community members will put their weekly recycling on the steps of parliament to highlight government inaction on the issue and demand change.

High-quality photos of the action for use are AVAILABLE HERE, credit Julian Meehan

In recent weeks, the cracks in the Australian recycling system have been exposed.  China ceased taking our recycling in July 2018, resulting in a major loss of market.  Without markets to sell to, recycling companies are stockpiling, leading to dangerous conditions and possible fire hazards.  Two major recycling locations were closed by the EPA on 21 February, and a third closed voluntarily shortly after, resulting in 27 councils around Melbourne sending recycling to landfill.  Short term solutions have been found for some of these councils, but several are still having to resort to binning our recycling.

Friends of the Earth has called for people to reconsider their use of pesticides in their gardens, due to offsite impacts of such spraying. Friends of the Earth is also calling for restrictions on the herbicide Simazine.

Friends of the Earth spokesperson Anthony Amis said, “In recent years a number of pesticides have been detected in urban waterways. It is likely that a proportion of this pollution is coming from domestic use of pesticides in gardens and around the home.

Friends of the Earth is alarmed that construction of the highly controversial Eastern Golf Course will start in the very near future.

Aerial photographs obtained by Friends of the Earth reveal that approximately 170 hectares of the site have recently been sprayed with the herbicide Glyphosate. The spraying was required to kill off existing pasture on the site.

Pesticides commonly used in vegetable cropping have been detected in waterways 25-30km away from the nearest vegetable cropping areas according to environmental organisation Friends of the Earth.

Friends of the Earth is working with the Boomerang Alliance to organise a campaign  launch in support of recycling jobs this Wednesday February 24.

A community picket closed the Transpacific Cleanaway's toxic dump in Tullamarine for an hour today, in preparation for an on-going picket that starts monday 25 May.

***PRESS RELEASE DECEMBER 18 2008***

chemical castrating herbicide used in swimming pools
Friends of the Earth calls for bans on simazine in swimming pools and more research into swimming pool chemicals

Friends of the Earth Australia today called for bans on the use of Simazine in swimming pools in Australia. Simazine is a herbicide, registered for use by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Association (APVMA) for a number of uses including swimming pools. Simazine also kills algae in swimming pools, dams, troughs, ponds and freshwater aquariums. The US EPA banned the use of Simazine in swimming pools in the United States in 1994.

Image: Wurdee Boluc aquaduct, vulnerable to pollution from 2 4D
and other agricultural chemicals

There is little monitoring of agrochemicals in surface waters in
Victoria. Water authorities have the best set of information in
Victoria about pesticides in drinking water, but in many cases even
this is most likely woefully inadequate.

Pesticides detected in Victorian domestic water supplies included
some such as 2,4-D, which is classified by the IARC (International
Agency for Research on Cancer) as a Class 2B carcinogen - possibly
carcinogenic to humans. 2,4-D is also known as an endocrine disruptor.

The report can be found at: http://www.foe.org.au