§ Sue DoughtyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been conducted for(a) her Department and (b) the Environment Agency on progress towards meeting the EU Incinerator Directive; and if she will make a statement. [65603]
604W
§ Mr. MeacherOn 20 June 2002, I announced in a written answer,Official Report, column 489W, the publication by the Department of a consultation paper setting out how the Government intend to implement Directive 2000/76/EC on the incineration of waste. This followed consideration of the directive's requirements and the refinement of a regulatory impact assessment (which is included as Annexe 1 to the consultation paper). Responses to consultation are requested by 9 September, in the light of which the Department will finalise draft secondary legislation to put before the House.
In anticipation of the impending implementation of this directive, the Environment Agency has taken the following actions:
Permits for all new incinerators now incorporate the directive's emission limits. Notices varying the operational conditions for existing municipal waste incinerators were issued earlier this year requiring operators to report on plant performance against the emission standards set out in the directive.Detailed guidance on the interpretation of the directive has been drafted in order to help agency staff to apply the directive's requirements in a consistent and transparent manner.A technical guidance note on waste incineration techniques and their associated emissions has been drafted and placed on the agency's website.
§ Sue DoughtyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has had from the(a) European Commission, (b) Environment Agency, (c) Environmental Services Association, (d) waste management companies, (e) industry and (f) others on the EU Waste Incineration Directive; and if she will make a statement. [65604]
§ Mr. MeacherThe former Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions conducted extensive consultations with these organisations during negotiations of the draft directive on the incineration of waste. The Department announced on 20 June 2002 the publication of a consultation paper setting out how the Government intend to implement the resulting directive (2000/76/EC) and inviting, by 9 September, responses from regulators, trade associations, industry and any other organisations or individuals with an interest. At this early point in the consultation period, no response has been received.
§ Sue DoughtyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what discussions she had had with(a) the European Commission and (b) others regarding the Waste Acceptance Criteria; what the status of the timetable for implementation is; and if she will make a statement; [65630]
(2) what representations she has received regarding the Waste Acceptance Criteria; and if she will make a statement. [65629]
§ Mr. MeacherThe waste acceptance criteria have been discussed at length with the Commission and other member states at a series of regular meetings of the Landfill Sub-Committee of the Committee for the Adaption to Scientific and Technical Progress of EC Legislation on Waste held since 1999.
These negotiations have been shadowed by a consultation group comprising representatives of the Environment Agency. Government Departments, the devolved Administrations, the waste management industry and waste producers. The representations made by 605W members of the group have formed a valuable input into the development of the UK's negotiating position on the waste acceptance criteria.
The Commission have now finalised and circulated a draft decision setting out criteria and procedures for the acceptance of waste at landfills. This will be voted on at a meeting of the Committee for the Adaption to Scientific and Technical Progress of EC Legislation on Waste in Brussels on 23 July 2002. The draft decision document requires the waste acceptance criteria to be transposed into domestic legislation by July 2004 and implemented by July 2005.
§ Sue DoughtyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research(a) has been conducted and (b) is planned for her Department on the (i) healthy, (ii) environmental and (iii) other impacts of (A) emissions from incinerators and (B) dioxins in incinerator ash; and if she will make a statement. [65605]
§ Mr. MeacherEmissions: The Environment Agency is currently conducting a 'Human Health Review of Incineration and Combustion Techniques' which is looking at the health impacts of emissions and a number of combustion processes including incineration.
Dioxins in incinerator ash: The Environment Agency has conducted an investigation into the composition, destination and use of residues from the 11 Municipal Solid Waste Incinerators in England. This includes analyses of dioxin levels in the residues, and assessments as to the environmental and health risks involved. The Agency's report has now been published and copies will be placed in the Library of the House.
Planned research: With the involvement of the Department of Health and the devolved Administrations, my Department recently hosted a seminar to identify the research needs of all waste management options, including incineration.
§ Sue DoughtyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who is responsible for(a) testing and (b) monitoring (i) incinerator ash and (ii) incinerator emissions; and if she will make a statement. [65606]
§ Mr. MeacherOperators are responsible for testing and monitoring incinerator emissions (including incinerator ash) and demonstrating compliance with assessment criteria specified by the regulator. The Environment Agency regulates all municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) with a capacity of 1 tonne per hour or greater. Local authorities regulate MWIs with a capacity less than I tonne per hour.
The Environment Agency carries out independent monitoring of emissions at least once a year. The agency also checks the operator's monitoring procedures and findings using a formal audit procedure.