§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the periods of the trials which have been carried out at Barrington cement works into the burning of secondary liquid fuel; what was the effect, during the trials, on the levels of dioxin and particulate matter which were permitted whilst the cement kilns were burning secondary liquid fuel; what criteria were used to determine whether future trials will be permitted; and what is the percentage of dioxin in the secondary liquid fuel and the percentage of dioxin in the emissions. [20072]
§ Mr. AtkinsThe trials that have been carried out are as follows:
- Trial 1: Secondary Liquid Fuel (SLF) burnt from 9/11/93 to 22/12/93.
- Trial 2: SLF burnt 1/3/94–31/5/94 and 1/7/94–31/8/94.
- Trial 3: SLF burnt 26/9/94–16/12/94.
- Trial 4: Started 24/1/95, ongoing.
The effect of burning SLF on the levels of dioxins and particulates was insignificant. Dioxins were below the limits set for chemical waste incinerators, and particulates were below the level set in the authorisation.
The criteria used to determine whether further trials would be permitted were based on a comparison of the emissions and their environmental effect and on the conditions set out in my written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Duncan) on 23 June 1994, Official Report, columns 259–60. The operator was required to demonstrate that burning of SLF will not result in a net adverse effect on the environment.
The level of dioxins in the secondary liquid fuel is below the limit of detection. The amount of dioxins as a percentage of exhaust gas weight is approximately 5 x 10-11.
§ Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether secondary liquid fuel is classified as waste by the European Union; [20073]
(2) what legal action is outstanding by the European Union against the United Kingdom in respect of the classification of secondary liquid fuel; [20074]
(3) which commercial companies producing waste allow their waste to be blended into fuels. [20075]
§ Mr. AtkinsThe definition of waste in article 1(a) of Council directive 75/442/EEC, as amended by Council directive 91/156/EEC, has been transposed into national legislation in the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. Whether or not a substance is waste within the meaning of article 1(a) depends on the facts of each case; and interpretation of the law is a matter for the courts. Guidance on the definition of waste is provided in annexe 2 to DOE circular 11/94.
There is no outstanding legal action by the European Commission against the United Kingdom in relation to the definition of waste and the classification of secondary liquid fuel.
No information is held centrally on commercial companies which allow waste which they have produced to be blended into fuels. All commercial companies producing waste are subject to the duty of care under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and each waste regulation authority is required to maintain a public register containing the information prescribed by regulation 10 of the 1994 regulations.