HC Deb 06 February 1989 vol 146 cc517-8W
Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how many local authorities have facilities for the collection of waste oil.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

This information is not held centrally.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the amount of waste oil that is unaccounted for each year.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

There are no annually compiled figures. In evidence to the 1985 House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities inquiry into disposal of waste oils (HL44, 1985–86) it was estimated that 100,000 tonnes were disposed of without re-use, from a total annual generation of 430,000 tonnes of waste oil.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to publicise(a) the dangers to the environment of the disposal of waste oil and (b) the availability of safe disposal and recycling sites; and what measures he is taking to ensure that waste oil is not used in heaters without proper pollution control equipment and to ensure sufficient safe disposal and recycling sites exist.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

A workshop, under the auspices of the Department and the Department of Trade and Industry, was held last October to promote awareness of the dangers of illegal disposal of waste oils and to encourage the use of suitable disposal facilities. Most local authorities provide such facilities at civic amenity sites.

Plants which burn waste oil will be among the processes for which controls would be strengthened under the proposed revisions to air pollution legislation.

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