HC Deb 13 February 1990 vol 167 cc198-9W
Dr. Kim Howells

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will name those materials categorised as inert or of natural origin currently dumped by the United Kingdom in the North sea under existing licences and those categorised under other headings.

Mr. Gummer

Materials licensed for dumping by the United Kingdom which are categorised by the Oslo commission as being inert and of natural origin are colliery stone and clean sand. Other material dumped includes port and navigation dredgings, which other North sea countries also dump at sea. In addition the United Kingdom licenses the dumping at sea of sewage sludge, liquid industrial waste and flyash. The disposal at sea of liquid industrial waste and flyash is being terminated as soon as environmentally acceptable land-based means of disposal can be introduced.

Dr. Kim Howells

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the specific waste materials mentioned in the United Kingdom's current applications for further industrial waste disposal licences relating to the practice of waste disposal in the seas around the United Kingdom, including the North sea.

Mr. Gummer

The United Kingdom has submitted information to the Oslo commission in accordance with the internationally agreed procedures in respect of the following wastes:

  1. 1. Wash waters from synthesis of Intal—a treatment for asthma and allergies.
  2. 2. Aqueous residues from preparation of paracetamol.
  3. 3. Salt solution from manufacture of O-tolyl-byguanide, exported for use in paint and soap manufacture.
  4. 4. Wash waters from synthesis of antibiotic and anti-ulcer medicines.

The crucial importance of some of these products will be obvious.

Since the date information was forwarded to the Oslo commission on the first waste an alternative means of disposal has been implemented. I have therefore rejected an application for renewal of the licence for the sea dumping of this material.

Alternative means of disposal are also being put in place for the third and fourth of these wastes and dumping at sea will cease later this year.

Dr. Kim Howells

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the Government's timetable for ending the current practice of the bulk dumping of various waste materials, including sewage sludge, in the North sea and in other maritime locations around the United Kingdom.

Mr. Gummer

The dumping of flyash and liquid industrial wastes is being terminated as soon as environmentally acceptable land-based means of disposal are available. Considerable progress has already been made in reducing the number of sea dumping licences and alternative disposal methods are currently being developed and implemented for the few remaining licensed materials.

Nearly 70 per cent. of our sewage sludge production is already disposed of on land. Licences for the sea dumping of the remainder are issued in accordance with international agreements and are carefully considered on a case-by-case basis to ensure that sea dumping will cause no harm in the marine environment and to confirm that no practicable land-based means of disposal are currently available.

There is no international requirement to phase out the sea dumping of dredged materials, which are dumped by all North sea states, and inert materials of natural origin.

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