The programme suggested that recyclable materials from the UK could be ending up in landfills in either China or Indonesia. There was also a suggestion that recovered paper, such as envelopes and print outs of emails with people’s details on them, were included in the loads.
” I hope they are destined for some shiny modern factory, just around the corner.“
– Michelle Thomas, Islington resident
The edition of Real Story looked to be based partly on reports in the Guardian newspaper published earlier this year which focused on a number of containers of recyclables which appeared largely to have not been greatly sorted into different materials.
Real Story started with an aerial shot of landfill in the UK and the oft-quoted analogy of the UK producing enough waste to fill the Albert Hall every hour.
A London resident, Michelle Thomas, was asked where she thought her recyclables would go. She replied: “I hope they are destined for some shiny modern factory, just around the corner.”
The programme then switched to Holland where Jenny van Houten of the Dutch Environment Department described how it had found containers of mixed recyclables that also included contaminants such as batteries.
Senior Environment Agency official Roy Watkinson appeared a number of times during the programme and was one of three people from the UK involved in a part of the recycling chain to appear. The other two were Andy Bond of ECT Recycling and Cllr Bridget Fox of Islington.
Mr Watkinson recalled how 75% of containers inspected in a recent check were not satisfactory. The BBC noted that some in the recycling sector consider the Agency to be too strict.
Indonesia
The programme then focused on containers of UK waste overseas and showed some in Indonesia which clearly contained different types of materials as well as plastic bags. It was unclear what the final destination of the material was although Real Story reporter Morland Saunders pressed the Indonesian environment minister Rachmat Witoelan on the matter. Mr Witoelan said he he believed the material was getting dumped and the country only had one factory to use the material.
The programme did not show any of the paper mills, steel mills or plastics plants or have anyone speaking to confirm that these plants do use material from the UK.
Kent-based Grosvenor Waste Management was named twice in the programme. In one mention, the BBC produced paperwork which they said showed the Indonesian material had been supplied by Grosvenor Waste Management. It also reported that Grosvenor said the material was produced by a German company. No Grosvenor spokesman was interviewed although film of the plant in Erith, shot from outside it, was broadcast.
Landfill
Film of the terrible conditions in the landfill in Djakarta, Indonesia was shown, with children perilously close to moving machinery. The BBC interviewed scavengers on the site who said they did not want any overseas waste, they had enough already. The programme also noted: “We found no evidence to show that waste from the UK was ending up at this dump.”
Islington
Islington councillor Bridget Fox was asked what would she say to residents who learnt their recyclables were overseas. She responded: “We will be taking steps to ensure that it is recycled. We hope this is a one off thing and it is of concern.”
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Positive
The approach taken to recycling by ECT Recycling of Ealing, London was shown as a positive way to deal with recyclables. Film of tidy and neat storage bays were shown alongside an interview with ECT director Any Bond. Mr Bond was asked what he thought about the sort of recycling that involves not sorting waste, and said: “If I was doing it I would expect to be prosecuted.”
The programme concluded with Fiona Bruce’s call to continue recycling after Mr Watkinson had been asked about why there had been so few prosecutions with regard to the export of the material. He replied: “Watch this space.”
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