§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what materials are being tipped at Collier's tip, Moss side lane, Rixton; and whether he is satisfied that none of the substances are dangerous to people living in the area.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe landfill site at Moss side lane, Rixton, operated by Collier's Industrial Waste is licensed to accept commercial and industrial waste, consisting of solids and non-pumpable sludges. I understand that in 1982 the total quantity of waste deposited there was 24,000 tonnes. Of this total, some 15,000 tonnes were classed as special waste under the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980, although mainly at low levels of contamination. The total for 1983 is expected to be similar, but with a smaller proportion of special waste.
Supervision of the disposal of waste at the site is a matter for the Cheshire county council as licensing authority. However, one of my hazardous waste inspectors has visited it and, while he is satisfied that in general the site is well maintained and operated, he has criticised the way in which certain acid tar has been lagooned and he has recommended the removal of a number of drums of anhydrous aluminium chloride. These points have been brought to the attention of the firm and the county council, and I understand that the terms of the site licence have now been tightened and that the council is currently considering how to deal with the drums already deposited.