Chlorofluorocarbons (Hansard, 16 March 1989)

Dr. Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has of the number of refrigeration units in the United Kingdom containing chlorofluorocarbons that will need to be disposed of by 1995; and what plans are in place to ensure the safe disposal of these units without releasing the contained chlorofluorocarbons.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
There are estimated to be some 30 million domestic refrigerators and freezers in use in the United Kingdom. Some 2 million appliances are disposed of each year. As yet no techniques for the safe disposal of the insulation material have been developed. At least one retailer of domestic refrigerators and freezers will collect the old appliance and recover the refrigerant for recycling. Recycling services, provided by both United Kingdom manufacturers of CFCs and by some refrigeration companies, are widely used by commercial and industrial refrigerants.

Dr. Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what regulations are in place to segregate wastes containing chlorofluorocarbons from other wastes at municipal disposal sites.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
None. Officials of the Department will shortly be meeting representatives of the local authorities to discuss their role in efforts to reduce emissions of CFCs.

Dr. Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions he has made to ensure that obsolete fridges, aerosols and packaging containing chlorofluorocarbons are disposed of in a way that does not release the chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
The chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) contained in aerosols are emitted to the atmosphere as their contents are used—old aerosol cans do not therefore generally contain CFCs. The difficulties inherent in identifying which packaging materials contain CFCs, and the logistical problems involved, mean that to legislate for their safe disposal is not a practical proposition. The industries are in any case rapidly moving away from the use of CFCs. For the disposal of refrigerators, I refer to the answer that I gave the hon. Member earlier today.

Dr. Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress in research into chlorofluorocarbon replacement(a) HCFC-22 and (b) HCFC-134a.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
HCFC-22 is already commercially available. HCF-134a is expected to be available in commercial quantities in the early 1990s, subject to the satisfactory outcome of toxicological testing and environmental evaluation.

Dr. Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress towards reducing ozone layer depletion following the conference on saving the ozone layer on 5 to 7 March; and what agreements have been reached with the People's Republic of China to ensure their production of chlorofluorocarbons is minimised.
318W

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
Progress expected to flow from the saving the ozone layer conference is summarised in the chairman's message prepared by my right hon. Friend. The message will be delivered to the first meeting of the contracting parties to the Montreal protocol in Helsinki in May. I am arranging for the message and the rapporteur's more detailed account of the conference to be placed in the Library. At the conference the People's Republic of China was one of a number of countries to indicate that it would give serious consideration to acceding to the Montreal protocol.