§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the level of inshore sea and beach pollution caused by used sanitary tampons and the plastic liners from sanitary towels.
§ Mr. MoynihanWhere there is visible evidence of sanitary towels and tampons it is usually attributable to discharges from short outfalls. These are being replaced as part of our programme to bring bathing waters up to EC standards. Many existing outfalls have screening and maceration facilities to break down such material into unrecognisable form. Design criteria for all new long sea outfalls provide for the removal of all solids retained by fine screening and their disposal by incineration or to landfill, and consequently, the effective disposal of sanitary towels and tampons. For these reasons, we believe pollution of inshore sea and beach areas from this source is a declining one.