§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he has any plans for specific legislation on waste oil discharges from incineration facilities;
(2) if he has any plans to facilitate the collection of waste oil from small producers;
(3) if he has any plans to introduce legislation to bring Britain into compliance with EEC directive 75/442 on waste by requiring establishments producing, collecting and disposing of at least 500 litres of waste oil each year to keep records and submit a report to the competent authorities;
(4) if he has any plans to introduce legislation to bring Britain into compliance with EEC directive 75/442 on waste by requiring that information be provided on the quantity, quality, origin and location of waste oils as well as on their receipt and dispatch;
(5) if he has any plans to introduce legislation to require mineral and synthetic oil retailers to take back waste oils free of charge;
(6) if he has any plans to introduce legislation to require that in-house disposal of waste oils must be authorised or approved;
(7) if he has any plans to introduce legislation to require the recycling of waste oils;
(8) if he intends to introduce specific provisions to prohibit the discharge of waste oils into water bodies and drainage systems;
(9) if he intends to introduce specific provisions to prohibit uncontrolled discharge of waste oils and to require that they be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Government are considering what further action to take to ensure compliance with EC directives 75/439, 75/442 and 87/101 regarding the disposal of waste oils. Most large industrial plants burning waste oils are already controlled by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution (HMIP) under the Alkali etc. Works Regulation Act 1906 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It is intended that waste oil burning will be included in processes listed in regulations made under the Environmental Protection Bill, when enacted, for part I control. The Government will also take steps to make the public aware of the need to dispose of waste oils in an environmentally responsible way.
§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce legislation specifically concerning disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and poly-chlorinated triphenyls.
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§ Mr. TrippierThe disposal of waste PCBs and PCTs is subject to the general legislation on the disposal of toxic waste. The storage and landfilling of waste PCBs/PCTs comes under the licensing system of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 and their incineration under the registration system of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Alkali etc. Works Regulations Act 1906. It is intended that storage and landfilling will come under the revised licensing system and chemical incineration under the integrated pollution control system to be established under the Environmental Protection Bill.
§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce legislation to require that the total polychlorinated biphenyl and halogen content of waste oils has to be recorded.
§ Mr TrippierUnder the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980, the PCB and halogen concentration of waste oils which are special wastes is stated on the consignment note which is raised when the waste is moved from the premises where it is produced. Copies of these consignment notes are kept on registers held by producers, carriers and waste disposal licence holders. The PCB and halogen content of waste oil, which brings it within the definition of special waste, is one of the matters covered in our proposals for revising the Special Waste Regulations which I shall announce shortly.
§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce legislation whereby a subsidy is paid to operators exchanging or retrofilling equipment containing poly chlorinated biphenyls or polychlorinated triphenyls.
§ Mr. TrippierNo. Paying subsidies would be contrary to the polluter pays principle.