§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about air pollution from landfill gas flares; what techniques are available to reduce emissions; and whether he will make gas flares subject to local authority air pollution control.
§ Mr. MacleanFlaring of landfill gas serves to destroy the flammable components of the inlet landfill gas and reduce the trace components which are responsible for odour problems. Carbon dioxide would constitute the bulk component of flared gas since methane is a flammable gas. However, in order to have a better understanding of emissions from flare systems, my Department has104W commissioned the Environmental Safety centre at Harwell laboratory to carry out research on the fate of landfill gas components when flared, to compare the potential environmental impact of both source and flared landfill gas, and provide technical recommendations on the key design factors in flare systems to ensure complete combustion. The final report is expected this year.
Pollution control legislation applies through the provisions of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 under which a landfill site requires to be licensed before operations can commence. The most recent advice on appropriate requirements for flare stacks is contained in chapter 8 of the Department's "Waste Management Paper No. 27". Since emissions are controlled through the waste disposal licence, it is not necessary for flares to be additionally controlled under the air pollution legislation.