HL Deb 16 January 1991 vol 524 c79WA
Lord Sudeley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the light of their derogation agreement with the European Community which will allow the development and use of refuse-derived fuel (RDF):

  1. (a) how the agreement will operate;
  2. (b) how private sector producers of refined RDF will benefit from the agreement;
  3. (c) how users of RDF will benefit: and
  4. (d) how the agreement will help the achievement of their target of the recycling of 50 per cent. of domestic refuse by the year 2000.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Baroness Blatch)

Her Majesty's Government negotiated the inclusion of derogation powers in the European Community Directive on Municipal Waste Incineration (Directive 89/369/EEC—new plant). At the moment, the Department of the Environment is preparing regulations to implement the Directive in the United Kingdom. The power to derogate will be included in these regulations, which will be subject to consultation.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution, as controlling authority for refuse-derived fuel plant under the new integrated pollution control system being brought in by the Environmental Protection Act 1990, is currently looking at the question of specific derogations.

Once the Inspectorate has concluded its examination, it will be for those concerned to judge the benefits to them.