"Waste generated in Wales can be handled within Wales" says Jake Griffiths, leader of the Wales Green Party.
Wales produces enough waste to fill the Millennium Stadium every twenty days. Approximately 45% of waste produced in Wales is already recycled, (1) however this is nowhere near as much as some parts of continental Europe, where 70% or more is recycled (2).
The Green Party, at its spring conference in Cardiff this weekend, will debate a policy motion that all waste generated in Wales should be managed in Wales.
Jake Griffiths, leader of the Wales Green Party, said: "‘Proposals by the Welsh Assembly to incinerate waste are wrong and demonstrate our failure to recycle. Recycling creates 10 times more jobs than incineration; this could lead to the creation of 3000 new jobs within Wales." (3)
"This proposal could become a vital part in the development of the Welsh economy's struggle to more become self-relaint and sustainable."
The Green Party conference will take place at the Angel Hotel in Cardiff, from the 25th to 28th of February.
Notes
1) http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/environmentandcountryside/2011/110112recyclingrate/?lang=en
2) http://www.green-alliance.org.uk/uploadedFiles/Publications/CPPWFlanders.pdf
3) In 2008, 4,630 people worked in waste disposal in Wales and a further 3000 jobs could become available if Wales were to recycle waste instead of using traditional methods such as landfill or incineration, according to Friends of the Earth (http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/green_jobs_valleys.pdf.)