Frustrated at being targeted for yet another waste dump residents of Greengairs and neighbouring villages today (Wednesday 27 October) took their protest to the country's biggest trade exhibition and conference for companies dealing in waste.

Half a dozen whistle-blowing, bin bag wielding, villagers staged a sit down protest and occupation of Eden Waste's corporate stand at today's Wastex event in Edinburgh. Other protests wearing t-shirts with slogans such as 'Eden Waste: don't dump on us', 'Eden Waste: don't dump on Greengairs' handed out leaflets to those attending the exhibition.

Eden Waste are trying to establish an 8 hectare (Volume: 800,000 cubic metres) landfill close to the four North Lanarkshire villages of Greengairs, Wattston, Glenmavis and Plains. The villages are already home to Europe¹s
biggest landfill and Scotland¹s biggest operating opencast mine. The villages are almost completely surrounded. The latest dump by Eden Waste would bring the number of landfills and opencast mines in the area to NINE.

Despite assurances given to protect the community by Scotland's First Minister, Jack McConnell when he visited Greengairs two years ago (February 2002) the villagers are facing further environmental injustice.

One of today's protesters, Ian Lewis, from Greengairs said: "Now Eden Waste know what it feels like to be dumped on. Eden Waste came along to this event today to tell the world what a wonderful company they are. Well, we were here to say that Eden Waste wants to dump thousands of tonnes of rubbish on our communities. Companies who are considering doing business with Eden Waste should consider if this is the type of company they
want to be associated with."

Another protester, Greengairs councillor, Sophia Coyle, said: "By taking this action today Eden Waste can no longer ignore our community. We don't need another dump as we've already got enough of them around here. Our community has had to put up with more than can be reasonably expected. This is why I decided to travel to this exhibition with other residents today."

Maria Donavan, Chair of Greengairs Community Council
³When will those in authority take action? We've had fine words, speeches and promises. Yet, the opencast and landfill companies just keep on coming. Our community has had to put up with other people¹s rubbish for years.
Jack McConnell promised to protect us. But we¹ve yet to see that promise delivered.²

Duncan McLaren, Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland said: "We applaud the action taken by the villagers today. These are a group of communities who have to endure some of the worst examples of environmental injustice. The system currently fails these communities. Until Jack McConnell delivers on his pledges it will sadly remain the same."

For more information:
Friends of the Earth: Lang Banks on 0131 554 9977 or (pager) 07654 200937
Greengairs Environmental Forum: Ann Coleman on 01236 830700
Councillor Sophia Coyle can be contacted at home on 01236 605947.
Greengairs Community Council Maria Donavan on 01236 830649

NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] According to the organisers the 2-day long Wastex is "Scotland's biggest waste and recycling trade exhibition and conference".
 http://www.don-mor.co.uk

[2]In February this year the villagers of Greengairs wrote to Jack McConnell calling for an urgent meeting following a decision to approve an 8 hectare (800,000 cubic metre) rubbish dump. The letter called on the First Minister to meet with representatives of the village in order that he can explain why the area has been again chosen as the site of yet another landfill. Three months have passed and the community has yet to receive a reply.

[3] On 7 February Scottish Ministers announced that they were ³minded to approve² plans for a 8 hectare (Volume: 800,000 cubic metres) landfill by Eden Waste near the former Dalmacoulter landfill to the south of the village.

There are already EIGHT other dumps or mines (some operating some closed) surrounding the village. Amongst others these include:

€ Drumshangie opencast (GM Mining) Scotland¹s largest operating opencast mine there is also a plan to increase the size of this opencast.
€ Shanks Waste Solutions Greengairs landfill Europe¹s largest landfill (site is a former opencast coal site)
€ Former Caird landfill recently closed and Œrestored¹ (site was a former opencast coal mine)
€ Boglea and Cameron opencast (GM Mining) yet to be fully Œrestored¹
€ Dalmacoulter landfill (N.L. Council) recently closed and Œrestored¹
€ Pinwhinnie coal recovery site

[4] On 18 February, 2002 Jack McConnell visited Greengairs where he made a number of environmental justice pledges.
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/1824752.stm



>>>>>>>>>>>>> TEXT FROM FLYER HANDED OUT BY PROTESTERS Who are we?
We represent four villages in North Lanarkshire (Greengairs, Wattston,Glenmavis and Plains).

> Why are we targeting Eden Waste today?
Eden Waste are trying to establish an 8 hectare (Volume: 800,000 cubic metres) landfill near our homes. Our villages are already home to Europe¹s biggest landfill and Scotland¹s biggest operating opencast mine. The villages are almost completely surrounded. The latest dump by Eden Waste would bring the number of landfills and opencast mines in the area to NINE.

> We want environmental justice for our communities?
Two years ago First Minister, Jack McConnell, visited Greengairs to launch a series of high profile environmental policies. During the visit McConnell acknowledged that our villages had suffered enough and pledged to take action to protect the village from more dumping and opencast mining.

Our communities have had to put up with other people¹s rubbish for years.
Seeing truck after truck of waste being dumped near your house is just not on and we have had enough. By targeting Eden waste today we hope to give them an idea of what it¹s like to have unwanted guests.
Jack McConnell promised to protect us. But we¹ve yet to see that promise delivered. If Jack McConnell won¹t deliver then Eden Waste should do the decent thing and withdraw their dump plans.

> Ask yourself, Œwould you want to live here¹?
There are already EIGHT other dumps or mines (some operating some closed) surrounding our villages. Amongst others these include: Drumshangie opencast (GM Mining) Scotland¹s largest operating opencast mine there is also a plan to increase the size of this opencast;
Shanks Waste Solutions Greengairs landfill Europe¹s largest landfill (site is a former opencast coal site); Caird landfill recently closed and Œrestored¹ (site was a former opencast coal mine); Boglea and Cameron opencast (GM Mining) yet to be fully Œrestored¹; Dalmacoulter landfill (N.L. Council) recently closed and Œrestored¹; and Pinwhinnie coal recovery site.

> We thought not. Now go ask Eden Waste on A26 if they would either.

>>>>>>>>>>>>> END OF FLYER TEXT<<<<<<<<<<<