HC Deb 26 October 1990 vol 178 cc323-4W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what weight of hydrocarbons is released to the atmosphere during a typical hour's operation of platemaking and photographical processes in printworks; and what regulations exist to control such atmospheric discharges.

Mr. Trippier

[holding answer 23 October 1990]: Total annual emissions of hydrocarbons—measured as volatile organis compounds (VOCs)—from the printing and ink manufacturing industry are estimated at 41,000 tonnes per year. Disaggregated hourly data for the processes specified are not available.

Should such processes cause statutory nuisance, they are controlled by local authorities under part III of the Public Health Act 1936. In future, subject to the approval of the Environmental Protection Bill, we intend to schedule those printing works with the greatest pollution potential for control under the new air pollution control regime proposed in part I of the Bill.

The United Kingdom is taking a leading part within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), which is preparing a protocol on VOCs. This will lead to cuts in emissions from all sources.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what volumes of toxic effluent are discharged each hour from a typical printworks; and what regulations exist to control such discharges.

Mr. Trippier

[holding answer 23 October 1990]: Information on discharges from printworks is not held centrally. The registers held by the National Rivers Authority contain discharge consent conditions for individual works and these will include those for volume.

Consents for discharges to sewer are granted by sewerage undertakers under the Public Health (Drainage of Trade Premises) Act 1937, and for discharges to controlled waters by the National Rivers Authority under the Water Act 1989. An application to discharge a prescribed substance into a sewer must be referred by the sewerage undertaker to the Secretary of State under the Trade Effluents (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1989, as amended. If an EC list I dangerous substance is discharged into controlled waters, the National Rivers Authority must set a consent consistent with its obligations under the Surface Waters (Dangerous Substances) (Classification) Regulations 1989.