HC Deb 27 June 1991 vol 193 cc516-7W
Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will require all contracts which involve the importation of waste into the United Kingdom to include a clause which will require the waste to be returned to the exporter if it is found to be different in nature, content or toxicity from that described in the contract.

Mr. Trippier

One provision of the Basle convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous waste and their disposal is that, where the fault lies with him, the exporter or generator must take back his waste where it does not conform in a material way with the documents including the contract. The European Community has considerable competence in respect of transboundary movements of hazardous waste and the United Kingdom is pressing the EC to adopt a regulation to implement the convention. The regulation will necessarily include provision for the return of waste in the circumstances described.