§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on what new plans he has to deal with the future disposal of chemical hazardous waste.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyI refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 14 December to the hon. Member for Stretford (Mr. Lloyd),Official Report, column 612. Since then, we have issued a further consultation paper, on 522W 24 January, proposing additional measures affecting the future of waste disposal control. A copy of this paper has been placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in theOfficial Report initiatives taken since 1979 to deal with the problems associated with the storage of hazardous chemical waste.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Control of Pollution Act 1974 requires, under section 3, that any land being used for the purposes of waste disposal must be licenced by the local waste disposal authority. These licences were originally issued under the Control of Pollution (Licensing of Waste Disposal) Regulations 1976 (as amended) and subsequently by the Collection and Disposal of Waste Regulations 1988.
The 1988 regulations require the licensing of premises used to store wastes (including hazardous wastes) under certain circumstances. The regulations require a licence to be issued where special wastes—as defined by the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980—are stored above certain quantities. These limits are as follows:
- (a) liquid wastes in excess of 23,000 litres stored in secure containers;
- (b) non-liquid wastes of a total volume greater than 80 cubic metres stored in secure containers; and
- (c) non-liquid wastes of a total volume greater than 50 cubic metres stored in a secure place or places.
The licence issued by the waste disposal authority should contain all necessary conditions to ensure that the operation of the licensed facility does not give rise to a danger to public health or cause pollution to water. It is the duty of the waste disposal authority to enforce the conditions of the licence and ensure compliance.
The operators of such facilities also have responsibilities towards their workers which are covered by health and safety legislation.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in theOfficial Report those sites now designated as official storage sites for hazardous chemical waste; and when each site was last inspected by his inspectors.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Control of Pollution Act 1974 requires, under section 3, that any land being used for the purposes of waste disposal must be licensed by the local waste disposal authority. Sites which store hazardous waste (specifically) special waste as defined in the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations above certain quantities have required such licences since 1976.
Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has records of some 126 such licensed facilities in England and Wales. As Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution does not hold copies of all waste disposal licences it would be necessary to obtain copies from the respective waste disposal authorities in order to provide full details. This would involve disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in theOfficial Report the additional requirements that a site designated as suitable for storage of hazardous chemical waste has to have before it is so designated.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Control of Pollution Act 1974 requires, under section 3, that any land being used for the purposes of waste disposal must be licenced by the 523W local waste disposal authority. Sites which store hazardous waste—specifically special waste as defined in the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations—above certain quantities have required such licences since 1976.
Waste disposal authorities are required to licence each waste disposal site individually taking into account all necessary measures to ensure that the facility operates in such a way as to prevent danger to public health and to avoid the pollution of water. Premises licenced to store hazardous waste are treated in exactly the same manner as any other waste disposal facility and, as such, there are no specific statutory requirements that apply solely to such facilities. Guidance on the issues that might be addressed in a licence for the storage of hazardous waste has been given by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in waste management paper No. 4.
§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what requests have been made to him by the Walsall metropolitan borough council regarding action over the disposal of hazardous and toxic waste; and what has been his response.
§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley[holding answer 3 February 1989]: In the past year, the Department has responded in detailed correspondence and discussion about the council's views on the need for more controls over disposal operations and imports and about their wish to eliminate hazardous waste disposal operations from their area. Those responses have included emphasis on the need for waste disposal authorities to meet the requirements of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 in planning and controlling waste disposal and explanations of the Government proposals for legislative improvements and the mechanism of the recently introduced Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in theOfficial Report initiatives taken since 1979 to deal with the problems associated with the storage of hazardous chemical waste.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 31 January 1989]: I have been asked to reply.
My officials have taken part with the Department of the Environment in the preparation of United Kingdom waste management papers on a number of topics relevant to special wastes, including:
Year Wood preserving wastes 1980 Arsenic bearing wastes 1980 Pesticide wastes 1980 Special wastes 1981 Clinical wastes 1983 Cadmium bearing wastes 1984 Heat treatment cyanide wastes 1985 The Control of Pollution (Licensing of Waste Disposal) (Scotland) Regulations 1977 and the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations, made in 1980, are being reviewed.
The need for a licence covering storage of special waste is drawn to the attention of waste disposal authorities during formal visits by the hazardous waste inspectorate.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in theOfficial Report those sites 524W now designated as official storage sites for hazardous chemical waste; and when each site was last inspected by his inspectors.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 31 January 1989]: I have been asked to reply.
Waste disposal authorities are not obliged to make returns giving details of their licences. From information held centrally we have identified four facilities in Scotland which are licensed solely for the storage of certain hazardous waste. These are:—
Address of storage facility Waste disposal authority Eni-Chem Elastomers Falkirk District Council Bo'ness Road Grangemouth Non-Tox Limited Inverness District Council Dalcross Industrial Estate Ardesier Strathclyde Department of Education Hamilton District Council Auchingramont Road Hamilton BP Petroleum Development Limited Shetland Islands Council The Vadill Sullom Voe Terminal It is the duty of waste disposal authorities to supervise the operation of all licensed facilities in their area. An inspector from the hazardous waste inspectorate did however visit the Sullom Voe site in 1984.
Storage facilities exist at other sites licensed for the disposal of waste, but are not identified separately.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in theOfficial Report the additional requirements that a site designated as suitable for storage of hazardous chemical waste has to have before it is so designated.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 31 January 1989]: I have been asked to reply.
Waste disposal authorities are required to license each waste disposal site individually and such licences may incorporate conditions relating to storage. There are no specific statutory requirements that apply solely to storage facilities.
In setting licence conditions applicable to any site, a waste disposal authority will take account of the materials to be stored, the nature of the operation and its location. Licence conditions for each site seek to ensure that each waste facility does not present a danger to public health, cause water pollution or become seriously detrimental to the amenity of the locality.