Greenpeace - campaigning against toxic toys
Five new studies by the European Commission have cast more doubt on the future of the material and vindicated the long running Greenpeace campaign for a complete phase out of the material.
The fifth and final report examines the economic aspects of PVC waste and concludes that it would be beneficial both economically and environmentally to stop incinerating PVC. However the report also notes that landfilling PVC "would form a reservoir of (phthalate plasticisers) that could slowly leach out over time. The report also notes that "there are clearly very finite limits to what can be recycled" and concludes "whatever the future for PVC this problem will remain with us for many years". It is clear then that the only solution is to stop producing PVC. Better environmental options already exist for virtually all its uses from window frames and flooring to toys and shower curtains.
The other studies in the series, which will inform the forthcoming European Green Paper which will attempt to address the environmental problems posed by PVC.
The other four reports on mechanical and chemical recycling, incineration and landfilling of PVC found that:
- Landfilled PVC releases phthalates in leachate and in gases escaping from landfills.
- "PVC products disposed of in landfills will certainly contribute to the formation of PCDD/PCDF" (dioxins) from landfill fires.
- PVC is probably one of the most important sources of the endocrine disrupting chemical bisphenol-a, in water leaching from landfills.
- When PVC is incinerated it leads to a net gain in waste (salts must be added to neutralise the hydrochloric acid released by burning PVC).
- PVC makes incinerator ash more toxic by increasing its heavy metal content.
- Incinerating PVC increases the leachate from landfilled residues by up to 19%.
- Recycling of PVC is "not competitive economically" the recycling rate "will stay on a very low level" and will not be able to make a significant contribution to dealing with the PVC waste mountain.
The findings of the EU studies vindicate the long running Greenpeace campaign for a phase out of PVC. Several of the chemicals released by PVC waste and cited in the reports as problematic (phthalates, dioxins, cadmium and to a lesser extent organo-tins, lead and nonylphenol) are on the OSPAR shortlist of fifteen chemicals for priority action. These are some of the most dangerous chemicals in the environment today and the fifteen European members of the OSPAR Commission (including the UK) have made a binding agreement achieve zero emissions of these substances as a priority. Clearly, it is not possible to attain this goal while still producing PVC.
