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"Dioxin is the most poisonous chemical known to science. It accumulates in our bodies, causes cancer and is passed on to our children".
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"If we leave this waste here it will be incinerated by Meriton and
dioxin will be released into the air," says Greenpeace toxics
campaigner Jason Collins. "Dioxin is the most poisonous chemical known
to science. It accumulates in our bodies, causes cancer and is passed
on to our children. We are doing this to bring attention to Sydney's
toxic waste crisis and to ask NSW Planning and Infrastructure Minister
Craig Knowles to stop choosing incineration when safer technologies
exist," Mr Collins said.
In 2000, the then NSW minister for transport, Carl Scully assured Greenpeace that toxic waste at Homebush Bay would not be incinerated.
But Craig Knowles broke Carl Scully's promise and said yes to incinerating dioxin contaminated toxic waste at the Meriton site. Incineration will begin late 2004/early 2005. He is considering a further three proposals to incinerate toxic waste, including the world's largest stockpile of HCB at Orica's site in Botany. A recommendation by an independent panel on Botany is due by Wednesday, June 30. Mr Knowles will then decide between incineration or cleaner closed loop technology to treat the HCB stockpile.
The former Union Carbide site at Homebush is owned by the State government. Union Carbide made the herbicide Agent Orange during the 1960s and 70s and dumped the waste from this process in Homebush Bay and on its foreshore, including on the Meriton site.
"What we have here is a race to build apartments at the expense of public health," says Greenpeace toxics campaigner Jason Collins. "Thirty per cent of the dioxin accumulated in a woman's body is passed on to her first child. Meriton has chosen a quick and dirty cheap incineration technology in order to get their apartments up first and Craig Knowles has approved this. It doesn't make sense when a cleaner closed loop technology exists and is being used on the neighbouring site," Mr Collins said.
Greenpeace moved only 20 m3 of toxic waste. There is still another 75,000 m3 of toxic waste in landfill on the Meriton site, due to be incinerated with the state government's approval.
Incineration is expected to start towards the end of this year.
Under the Stockholm Convention - international law ratified by Australia in May this year - incineration of toxic waste is illegal.
In 2000, the then NSW minister for transport, Carl Scully assured Greenpeace that toxic waste at Homebush Bay would not be incinerated.
But Craig Knowles broke Carl Scully's promise and said yes to incinerating dioxin contaminated toxic waste at the Meriton site. Incineration will begin late 2004/early 2005. He is considering a further three proposals to incinerate toxic waste, including the world's largest stockpile of HCB at Orica's site in Botany. A recommendation by an independent panel on Botany is due by Wednesday, June 30. Mr Knowles will then decide between incineration or cleaner closed loop technology to treat the HCB stockpile.
The former Union Carbide site at Homebush is owned by the State government. Union Carbide made the herbicide Agent Orange during the 1960s and 70s and dumped the waste from this process in Homebush Bay and on its foreshore, including on the Meriton site.
"What we have here is a race to build apartments at the expense of public health," says Greenpeace toxics campaigner Jason Collins. "Thirty per cent of the dioxin accumulated in a woman's body is passed on to her first child. Meriton has chosen a quick and dirty cheap incineration technology in order to get their apartments up first and Craig Knowles has approved this. It doesn't make sense when a cleaner closed loop technology exists and is being used on the neighbouring site," Mr Collins said.
Greenpeace moved only 20 m3 of toxic waste. There is still another 75,000 m3 of toxic waste in landfill on the Meriton site, due to be incinerated with the state government's approval.
Incineration is expected to start towards the end of this year.
Under the Stockholm Convention - international law ratified by Australia in May this year - incineration of toxic waste is illegal.
