§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how Her Majesty's Government implement the policy of "polluter pays" in regard to consignments of toxic waste exported for treatment.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe costs associated with the export of hazardous waste are generally met by the exporter. Under the EC Waste Shipments Regulation, which will apply in May, specific powers are provided which will enable competent authorities to charge exporters for the costs of implementing the notification and supervision procedure, together with usual costs of appropriate analyses and inspections. Exporters who are not themselves the producers of the waste will no doubt wish to reflect the impact of those charges in the cost of the service they provide to waste producers. Moreover, it is a requirement under the Waste Shipments Regulation that wastes shall be exported only where the process for which they are destined is environmentally sound. The costs of these processes are a matter for the terms of the contract between the exporter and the consignee.