§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who has primary responsibility for specifying the requirements for waste management practices at incinerator plant.
§ Mr. TrippierCurrently operations at incinerators are governed by the conditions of site licences granted by waste disposal authorities under the Control of Pollution Act 1974. Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution also has responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 for the control of air pollution from all chemical incinerators, and other incinerators with capacities of over 1 tonne per hour; this control covers the whole process, including such matters as good housekeeping and training of operators. Local authority environmental health departments are responsible for the control of air emissions from other types of incinerator, under the Clean Air Acts and the statutory nuisance provisions of the Public Health Acts.
When the new system of integrated pollution control is brought into effect under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution will assume full responsibility for the control of all releases to the environment, whether to air, water or land, from incinerators with a capacity of over 1 tonne per hour. Air emissions from other incinerators will be controlled by local authorities at district level; waste regulation authorities will have responsibility for all other aspects of control. Regulations detailing the interface will be laid shortly.