Day 061 - 05 Dec 94 - Page 38

     
     1   Q.   This is the packaging Panel Presentation?
     2        A.  Yes.
     3
     4   Q.   If you turn to page 674?
     5        A.  Right.
     6
     7   Q.   There appears to be some kind of an argument against paper
     8        on this page, to justify the use of polystyrene packaging.
     9        It says in the third paragraph talking about paper:
    10        "Decomposition can be very slow, and biodegradable
    11        material has been found almost intact as long as almost 20
    12        years after it was deposited".
    13        A.  Right.
    14
    15   Q.   "What's more, decomposition can lead to problems of
    16        chemical seepage and methane gas"?
    17        A.  Yes.
    18
    19   Q.   So would you recognise that is a problem?
    20        A.  I have never, as I said to you the other day, I have
         never seen this document before.  I do not know what it is
    22        or who it was presented to.  I understand it was a draft
    23        document which may have subsequently got corrected or not.
    24        I do not know.
    25
    26   Q.   Would you agree that they seem to be under the impression
    27        that dumping things in landfill either results in them not
    28        decomposing, in which case they remain there for ever more
    29        or for a considerable period of time?
    30        A.  That is what they say, yes.
    31
    32   Q.   Or else they decompose and can lead to chemical seepage and
    33        methane gas?
    34        A.  That is that they are saying.  What credibility you can
    35        attach to it, I do not know.
    36
    37   Q.   If you could turn to document 31 now?
    38        A.  Yes.
    39
    40   Q.   I am not quite sure where the front of this document is,
         but the page we want is 582.  This is a McDonald's
    42        document.  It is in the Environmental Action Pack.
    43        A.  Right.
    44
    45   Q.   Produced in the USA, I think.  On this page under
    46        Methane  ---
    47
    48   MR. MORRIS:  Left-hand column.
    49
    50   MS. STEEL:   -- bottom left-hand column, the second one is: 
    51         "I am formed by decay that occurs in landfills"? 
    52        A.  Yes. 
    53
    54   Q.   So would you recognise now that dumping waste in landfills
    55        does create problems?
    56
    57   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Had you not better put it two ways?  I will
    58        tell you why, so there is no secret about it.  The article,
    59        do you remember, I told you I read in the newspaper a week
    60        or so ago, said that the landfill out in South Essex which