HC Deb 19 March 1982 vol 20 c220W
Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much polychlorinated biphenyl has been destroyed by high temperature incineration.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Since high temperature incineration facilities became available in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s approximately 3,500 tonnes of materials containing polycholorinated biphenyls have been destroyed in them. The PCB content of this waste ranged from a very small proportion up to almost 100 per cent.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the incidence of compliance and non-compliance with the procedures for handling polychlorinated biphenyl set out in waste management paper 6.

Mr. Giles Shaw

Since the publication of waste management paper No. 6, my Department has received information about only half a dozen incidents in which there does not appear to have been strict compliance with the recommendations of the paper. In no case was there a serious threat to people or the environment.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how long it would take, using facilities presently available, to dispose safely by incineration, of all the polychlorinated biphenyl found in electrical apparatus in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Giles Shaw

I am writing to the hon. Member.