Mr. PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution authorisation for the burning of cemfuel in cement kilns complies with the application of the proposed EU directive on hazardous waste. [16908]
§ Mr. ClappisonMaximum thermal substitution has been restricted to 40 per cent. as per article 3(3) and the cemfuel has been specified as per article 3(4) of the directive. Emission limits have been set as required by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the chief inspector's guidance notes. As long as cemfuel remains defined as waste, all relevant provisions of the directive will apply from the date defined in the directive.
Mr. PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he has evaluated alleging that burning(a) tyres, (b) sewage sludge and (c) polychlorinated biphenyls in cement kilns is safe. [16727]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe criteria used by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution in determining the safe use of a waste fuel in cement kilns is to require the operator to undertake trials and to prove that such burning will not result in adverse environmental effects. One plant has carried out such trials with burning of tyre chips and proved that there was no adverse effect on the environment. There have been no trials on the burning of sewage sludge or PCBs.