Waste Shipments (Hansard, 16 May 1996)

§ Mr. Clappison

The Government's policies are set out in the "United Kingdom Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste", which is published today, and comes into operation on 1 June 1996.

Under the plan, which is legally binding throughout the United Kingdom, all exports of waste for disposal are banned, as are most imports for disposal other than in exceptional cases where wider environmental considerations apply. Exports of water for recovery to countries within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development may continue but, subject to limited exceptions, exports of hazardous waste for recovery to non-OECD countries are banned. Imports of waste for genuine recovery operations may continue.

The Government's policy proposals for waste exports and imports were initially outlined in a statement by my right hon. Friend, the Member for South Ribble (Mr. Atkins), who was then Minister for the Environment and Countryside, on 15 June 1994. The Department 556W consulted on a draft document during February and March 1995; some 750 copies were dispatched, and 73 responses were received from industry, waste regulators and members of the public. Copies of non-confidential responses have been placed in my Department's library. The final text of the plan incorporates various changes to meet the concerns and interests of those consulted.

A compliance cost assessment has been undertaken in relation to the plan. Copies of both the plan and the compliance cost assessment have been placed in the Library.

The plan provides the means to implement the Government's long-standing policy of self-sufficiency in waste disposal, while preserving legitimate trade in wastes moving for recovery. It also takes account of the United Kingdom's international obligations, in particular under the Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal.