Mrs. Helen JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new guidelines he plans to issue(a) to enable local authorities to more effectively deal with the problem of unregulated tyre dumps and (b) to ensure the safe disposal of used tyres so as to cause minimal effect on the environment.
§ Mr. MacleanLocal authorities already have powers under the Control of Pollution Act 1974, the Refuse Disposal Amenity Act 1978 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to prosecute those guilty of treating, keeping or disposing of tyres illegally. The maximum penalty for such an offence is imprisonment for up to two years and an unlimited fine.
Those with waste tyres to dispose of are also subject to the duty of care under section 34 of the 1990 Act, which requires that they can pass waste tyres only to a carrier registered with the waste regulation authority or to a licensed disposal facility. A breach of the duty of care is a criminal offence punishable, on conviction on indictment, by an unlimited fine.
My Department is currently involved with the EC priority waste stream project group on used tyres and in the course of this work will be considering all possibilities for achieving satisfactory disposal of used tyres.
Mrs. Helen JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's policy on the disposal of used tyres from its own car fleet.
§ Mr. MacleanUsed tyres from the Government car service are transferred for disposal to persons appropriately authorised for the purposes of the duty of care under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Mrs. Helen JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken with other EC countries to identify a common policy on the safe disposal of used tyres.
§ Mr. EggarI have been asked to reply.
An EC "priority waste stream" group, made up of all interested parties, including member states, has for the past two years been devising action plans to reduce the environmental impact of used tyres. The group, in which my Department has participated fully, is expected to complete its work by the end of the year and to propose targets and measures aimed at reducing the quantities of used tyres going for disposal and at promoting their re-use, retreading, and recycling throughout the Community.