§ Mr. Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance is being given by water authorities to waste disposal authorities regarding standards and control of waste disposal sites to avoid water pollution.
§ Mr. MarksUnder the Control of Pollution Act 1974 waste disposal authorities have a statutory responsibility to consult water authorities before issuing a licence for a waste disposal site. The views expressed by the water authorities will, therefore, be related to the circumstances at each site.
§ Mr. Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance is being given by his Department to the water authorities to encourage co-operation between them and waste disposal authorities in providing facilities for domestic and industrial waste disposal in their areas.
§ Mr. MarksWater authorities will be closely involved with the decisions to be made by waste disposal authorities on licences for waste disposal sites and on the long-term planning of waste disposal as provided for in the Control of Pollution Act. My Department has issued detailed guidance on the co-operation which is desirable between the two sets of authorities to ensure that adequate disposal facilities are available.
§ Mr. Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take in support of the principle of the regional disposal of industrial waste.
§ Mr. MarksMy Department has advised waste disposal authorities of the advantages of disposing of waste near its point of arising. There are bound to remain cases where on balance it is better to transport it to more distant sites or plant. But the discussions on the future planning of waste disposal which are already taking place between many waste disposal authorities should identify possibilities for rationalising present disposal patterns.
§ Mr. Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance and help is being given to local authorities 138W who are considering installing waste incineration plants.
§ Mr. MarksMy Department has published advice on the case for and against incineration of waste and has discussed the problems involved with individual authorities. We welcome the initiative of certain industries in burning waste as a supplementary fuel in suitable conventional boilers.