§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to enable local authorities to collect and dispose of old fridges and freezers free of charge. [19539]
400W
§ Mr. MeacherWaste disposal authorities have a statutory duty to provide reasonably accessible sites where householders can dispose of their waste free of charge but they may restrict the availability of particular sites to specified descriptions of waste. Waste collection authorities have a statutory duty to arrange for the collection of household waste. However, they are entitled to impose a collection cost charge for certain wastes, including items over 25 kg.
§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for facilities to recycle foam from fridges. [19538]
§ Mr. MeacherIn order to speed up investment in domestic treatment facilities my Department has finalised guidance on standards to be applied to treatment facilities. Decisions on investment in plant are for individual companies to take.
§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government will be able to comply immediately with the EC regulation on the disposal of fridges. [19541]
§ Mr. MeacherAs from 1 January 2002, there will be an obligation to recover ozone depleting substances (ODS) (including CFCs and HCFCs) from insulation foam in refrigeration equipment before such appliances are scrapped. Stakeholders are aware of the requirements of the regulation and measures have been put in place to facilitate the storage of waste refrigeration units pending treatment facilities becoming available.
§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what plans she has to part-fund the costs incurred by local authorities storing end-of-life refrigerators prior to recycling; [19955]
(2) what plans she has to launch a local government funding initiative to part-fund the costs incurred by local authorities storing end-of-life refrigerators prior to recycling. [19954]
§ Margaret BeckettI announced on 4 December an extra £6 million in the local government finance settlement to help local authorities with the extra costs of dealing with fridges to the end of this financial year. We are urgently assessing the impacts of the Ozone Depleting Substances Regulation (EC Regulation No 2037/2000) and will determine what further action will be necessary beyond that.