HC Deb 22 July 1986 vol 102 c114W
Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice his Department gives to local authorities on the treatment and disposal of polychlorinated biphenyl waste.

Mrs. Rumbold

The main source of advice my Department gives to local authorities on the treatment and disposal of PCB waste is Waste Management Paper No. 6, which is due to be extended and updated.

In September 1985 my Department provided local authorities with more up-to-date and definitive guidelines in respect of landfill disposal of PCB-contaminated wastes. This advice is set out in some detail on pages 13 and 14 in the second report of the Hazardous Waste Inspectorate published yesterday. Copies of this report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many inquiries he has had concerning the disposal problems of polychlorinated biphenyls in the last five years.

Mrs. Rumbold

Over the last five years my Department has received inquiries concerning only some half a dozen incidents which involved the disposal of PCBs.