HC Deb 25 January 1991 vol 184 cc326-7W
Mr. Janman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what restrictions he is considering for the use of schedule A category products in incineration.

Mr. Baldry

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the regulations that the Department is preparing to prescribe processes and substances for control under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. It is not intended in the regulations to restrict the substances for incineration. Any restriction on the way products are incinerated will be described in guidance which is still being drafted.

Mr. Janman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will consider using European Community guidelines as a basis for a new categorisation of refuse-derived compost other than industrial waste;

(2) what steps his Department is taking to encourage the private sector and others to develop composting facilities for the processing of the vegetable content from the domestic wastes stream; and how such residues will be defined or classed;

(3) whether recycled products produced from a combination of separate primary products will have their own primary status or be assigned the status of their main components for the purposes of statutory environmental controls.

Mr. Tony Baldry

My Department is spending about £140,000 in this financial year on research into the composting of domestic waste and uses for the end product. Householders have been encouraged to start compost heaps in their gardens. Any classification of compost will depend on its content and proposed use.