Waste Disposal (Hansard, 20 February 1989)

§ Mrs. Ray Michie
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what regulations have been established for the transportation of domestic and commercial waste in Scotland from other areas of the country.

Lord James Douglas Hamilton
Controlled waste arising within the United Kingdom for disposal in Scotland is governed by the Control of Pollution (Licensing of Waste Disposal) (Scotland) Regulations 1977 and the Control of Pollution (Special Waste) Regulations 1980. The licence conditions determine, among other things, the nature of wastes which may be disposed of at a site. The Special Waste Regulations make provision for a system of consignment notes to be used by those who produce, transfer for disposal or dispose of special waste in order to notify the waste disposal authorities concerned.

§ Mrs. Ray Michie
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he takes to prevent clinical waste beting transported for disposal in Scotland without public knowledge; and if he will make a statement.

Lord James Douglas Hamilton
Under the Control of Pollution Act 1974, all waste must be disposed of at a site which is being used in accordance with a licence issued by the waste disposal authority for the area (the district or islands council). Conditions prescribing the working practices are invariably attached to such licences; these may include requirements relating to the type and quantities of waste which may be accepted. The waste disposal authority must keep a register of licences available for public inspection at its principal office, and every authority does so.
509W
The Special Waste Regulations 1980 control the movement of dangerous wastes, but clinical wastes are rarely considered to be so dangerous as to fall under the regulations.

§ Mrs. Ray Michie
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much and what type of clinical waste was transported from London to Scotland for disposal in Glasgow, as revealed by the London waste regulatory authority.

§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
Information of this kind is not held centrally. Responsibility for monitoring the safe disposal of waste is a matter for the local waste disposal authority concerned.