§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to reduce the quantities of toxic waste going to landfill. [25753]
§ Mr. ClappisonReducing the amount of waste we produce is our first priority. But it is equally important that we reduce its hazardousness. In Great Britain hazardous waste is called "special waste". Defined in this way, it covers approximately 1 per cent. of controlled waste arisings.
Because of the threat posed by hazardous wastes to human health and the enviornment, we agree that it is important to minimise the quantities of these substances in waste arisings. The waste minimisation measures we have taken relating to the hazardousness of waste often take the form of regulations, such as the marketing and use directive amendments, which restrict or prohibit harmful materials such as chlorofluorocarbons, found in refrigerators, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, formerly used in electrical equipment, and now certain types of battery.
63WIn the White Paper "Making Waste Work: A Strategy for Sustainable Waste Management in England and Wales", we have set a target to reduce the proportion of all controlled waste going to landfill from 70 per cent. to 60 per cent. by 2005.