HC Deb 12 April 1994 vol 241 cc133-4W
Mr. Sykes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment he has made on the effect of forthcoming waste management regulations on the asset base of the metal recycling industry;

(2) what representations he has received on the effect of the intended waste management regulations on the asset base of the metal recycling industry.

Mr. Atkins

My Department has received representations on this matter from the secondary metals industry. The waste management licensing regulations will require holders of waste management licences to remain responsible for discharging the conditions of the licence until the condition of the site, insofar as it arises from the handling of waste carried on at the site, is such that the licence may be surrendered. If a licensed metal recycler carries out his activities in such a way that the condition of the land is unlikely to cause pollution or harm to human health then there will be no bar to the surrender of a licence and the realisation of the asset value of a site. If pollution or harm is caused or is likely, that might be expected to affect the asset value of a site irrespective of the provisions of waste law.

Mr. Burden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list each of the deregulation task force's recommendations as they affect the metal recycling industry indicating whether the Government have accepted the recommendations or not; and in the case of acceptance of the recommendations, what action the Government intend to take.

Mr. Atkins

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall).

Mr. Sykes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the application of article 11 of the EC framework directive on waste in exempting metal recycling from licence provision in each of the member states.

Mr. Atkins

Article 11 of the EC framework directive on waste permits member states to make exemptions from permits for activities involving the recovery of waste, including metal recovery, subject to provisos directed at the protection of the environment. It is for each member state to decide how to implement the provisions of the directive. My Department does not hold detailed information on relevant national law in other member states.

Mr. Burden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the effect of describing waste management licences issued to recyclers of non-ferrous metals as metal recycling licences; and how the conditions for the issue of metal recycling licences will differ from those attached to the issue of waste management licences.

Mr. Atkins

The waste management licensing regulations will require persons who recover waste, including waste non-ferrous metal, to do so under a waste management licence, except insofar as their activities may be exempted under the regulations. I have accepted the suggestion of the secondary metals industry that those waste management licences authorising the recovery of metal should be described as "metal recovery licences" to help to focus attention on the distinctive features of the industry. The Government will be issuing advice in a waste management paper on the conditions appropriate to licences for metal recovery.