Recycling centre closure will be costly for recyclers and climate

Dundee council’s closure of their busiest recycling site will force local recyclers to spend almost £500,000 in fuel and running costs, as well as emit 4000 tonnes of CO2, according to the council’s own figures.

Friends of the Earth Tayside wants this decision suspended to look at cost implications and the environmental harm caused.

Doug McLaren, Friends of the Earth Tayside, said: “Displaced recyclers in Dundee will be forced to drive one million miles over the next year, spend almost £500,000 in fuel and running costs and emit over 4000 tonnes CO2, just to do what good citizens should do by responsibly dealing with the 6000 tonnes of ‘waste’ that they currently take to Dundee’s Marchbanks Recycling Centre every year.

“That is what Dundee City Council’s own figures predict will be the outcome of their decision to close the Marchbanks Centre, all for alleged savings of approximately £300,000, a figure which we seriously challenge.

“The council’s decision has been taken without a scrap of consultation, without any research evidence to back up their actions, knowing it will further fail to meet recycling and air quality targets and in the process break many of the environmental regulations designed to benefit our environment.

“Friends of the Earth Tayside predicts lower recycling rates and an increase in fly-tipping, as people who would otherwise recycle, decide it’s not worth their time and money to drive across the city. These concerns are shared by local residents who are campaigning with us to get the decision reversed.”

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact:
Per Fischer, Press Office, Friends of the Earth Scotland t: 0131 243 2719

Notes to Editors

1. Amended version of the Committee Report recommending the closure of Marchbanks, questioning many of the statements and assumptions contained within it: www.foe-tayside.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Mbanks-closure-report-amended_v08.pdf

2. Friends of the Earth Scotland is * Scotland’s leading environmental campaigning organisation * An independent Scottish charity with a network of thousands of supporters and active local groups across Scotland * Part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 77 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups – covering every continent. www.foe-scotland.org.uk