HC Deb 05 June 2000 vol 351 cc51-5W
Mr. Gill

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the extent to which the application of the EU waste incineration directive complies with the Government's Better Regulation Guide. [122947]

Mr. Hill

The Better Regulation Guide was published four years after the waste incineration directive was first proposed by the European Commission. The cost-benefit analysis undertaken on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to underpin the required Regulatory Impact Assessment by Entec UK Ltd. was carried out in accordance with Part II of the Better Regulation Guide, and the structure of the Entec report (copies of which are in the House Library) reflects this.

Mr. Gill

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the(a) average cost of a small incinerator and (b) increase in this average cost consequent upon the application of the EU waste incineration directive; [122951]

(2) what assessment he has made of the average cost to a farm with a small incinerator of the steps needed to comply with the implementation of the EU waste incineration directive. [122950]

Mr. Hill

Full information on the purchase cost of small incinerators is not held, but we believe the cost of a new animal carcase incinerated under 50kg/hr capacity is of the order of £2,000–£10,000. Entec UK Ltd., who undertook cost-benefit analysis work on behalf of my Department in respect of the proposed waste incineration directive (copies of which are in the House Library), have estimated on the basis of a 100kg/hr unit that the capital compliance cost in respect of combustion requirements, abatement plant, monitoring equipment and spillage control for incinerators in the under 50kg/hr capacity category would be approximately £230,000 with annual operating costs of approximately £12,000.

Mr. Gill

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect of the EU waste incineration directive on UK compliance with the proximity principle of waste disposal. [122948]

Mr. Hill

Our policy on waste is set out in the Waste Strategy 2000, published on 25 May. This emphasises the priority the Government place on tough environmental standards for all types of incineration. It also makes clear that wastes should be disposed of as close to the point of production as possible, consistent with the need for effective environmental controls.

We are looking at ways of complying with the proposed directive which will minimise the burden on small-scale animal carcase incinerators and pet crematoriums while ensuring that there are appropriate environmental safeguards.

Mr. Gill

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the number of small incinerators on farms that will close as a result of the application of the EU waste incineration directive; [122952]

(2) what plans he has to introduce a compensation scheme for farmers who may have to close their small incinerators following implementation of the EU waste incineration directive. [122949]

Mr. Hill

As matters stand, the proposed waste incineration directive will not have effect for existing incinerators until autumn 2005. We are currently looking at ways of complying with the proposed directive which will minimise the burden on small-scale animal carcase incinerator operators, including farmers and others, while ensuring that there are appropriate environmental safeguards.

Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the Government's target is for the amount of residential and commercial waste disposed of through incinerators by 2005. [123501]

Mr. Meacher

[holding answer 23 May 2000]: The Government have not set targets for waste disposal by incineration. The waste strategy sets a target to recover value from 40 per cent. of municipal waste through recycling, composting or energy from waste by 2005.

Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the Government's policy is on the importation of rubbish from outside the United Kingdom to be disposed of in incinerators. [123486]

Mr. Meacher

[holding answer 23 May 2000]: Existing policies on exports and imports of waste are set out in the United Kingdom Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste, which came into effect on 1 June 1996.

The Plan does not permit imports of municipal waste for final disposal. However, to be consistent with the EC Waste Shipment Regulation (EEC No.259/93), the Plan cannot prohibit imports for genuine recovery, which could include incineration where the prime purpose was energy recovery. Any such imports of municipal waste would, though, be subject to a prior informed consent procedure; and the available data for 1996–98 show that no such imports occurred over that period.

Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the place of incineration in the Government's hierarchy of waste management options. [123517]

Mr. Meacher

[holding answer 24 May 2000]: The waste strategy set out the Government's view that reduction and re-use of waste should be considered before recovery. It emphasised that recycling and composting should be considered before energy recovery through incineration.

Mrs. Brinton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on farm costs of the implementation of the proposed EU waste incineration directive. [123652]

Mr. Hill

No assessment has be made of the impact of the proposed waste incineration directive on farm costs in general. The cost implications of the proposed waste incineration directive for the sort of small-scale animal carcase incinerators which may be operated on farms was considered by Entec UK Ltd. as part of the cost-benefit analysis work undertaken on behalf of my Department (copies of which are in the House Library). They have estimated on the basis of a 100 kg/hr unit that the capital compliance cost in respect of combustion requirements, abatement plant, monitoring equipment and spillage control for incinerators in the under 50 kg/hr capacity category would be approximately £230,000 with annual operating costs of approximately £12,000. We would expect farmers to look for alternative options rather than paying such sums. We recognise that this will involve some cost, but nowhere near £230,000.

Mr. Prior

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the proposed EU waste incineration directive. [124136]

Mr. Hill

The Government are committed to tough standards for incinerators and therefore welcome the proposed waste incineration directive.

The Council of Ministers is currently considering the European Parliament's amendments to the Common Position agreed in June 1999, including those affecting the scope, at official level. Council's rules of procedure do not allow me to comment on the detail of those discussions. No decisions have yet been taken by the Council in relation to the European Parliament's amendments, and we will keep the House informed in the usual way.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will seek a derogation from the EU waste incineration directive for small incinerators. [124321]

Mr. Hill

We have explored during negotiations on the waste incineration directive proposal various issues concerning the scope. The Common Position text includes an exemption for small experimental plant but it is clear that an absolute derogation for small plant is not available.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the likely shift in consumption of fuels in incinerators as a result of the application of the EU waste incineration directive, with particular reference to LPG and small incinerators. [124318]

Mr. Hill

No assessment has been made of the implications of the proposed waste incineration directive for the consumption of potential incinerator support fuels, such as liquefied petroleum gas.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the compliance with the better regulation test of proportionality of the application of the EU waste incineration directive to small incinerators; [124319]

(2) what assessment he has made of the compliance with the small business litmus test of the application of the EU waste incineration directive to small incinerators; [124320]

(3) what assessment he has made of the likely change in emission of pollutants as a result of the application of the EU waste incineration directive to small incinerators. [124317]

Mr. Hill

A Regulatory and Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed waste incineration directive was undertaken in accordance with the Better Regulation Guide. Copies of the assessment and the consultants' reports underlying that assessment, undertaken for the Department by Entec UK Ltd., are in the House of Commons Library. Entec carried out small business litmus tests for incineration sectors containing small firms.

Mrs. Brinton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from pet crematoriums in relation to the proposed EU waste incineration directive. [123777]

Mr. Hill

I have received representations originating from six pet crematoriums and one representative organisation expressing concerns about the impact of the proposed directive on their businesses.

As matters stand, the proposed waste incineration directive will not have effect for existing incinerators (including pet crematoriums) until autumn 2005. We are currently looking at ways of complying with the proposed directive which will minimise the burden on small-scale animal carcase incinerator operators, including pet crematoriums, while ensuring that there are appropriate environmental safeguards.

Mr. Gardiner

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what investigations the Environment Agency has made into irregular emissions from the incinerator at Northwick Park Hospital; and if enforcement action has been commenced. [123581]

Mr. Meacher

Several complaints were made between 1993 to 1995, all of which were investigated by the Environment Agency. Following a complaint in July 1995 the Environment Agency issued an enforcement notice. The operator complied by introducing controls on the blending and checking of waste. These modifications were carried out in November 1998. The Environment Agency is currently investigating a complaint made in April 2000 and will consider appropriate action in line with its Enforcement and Prosecution Policy when the investigation is complete.