§ Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment. Transport and the Regions what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the impact of (i) recycling and (ii) burning secondary fuels; and if he will make a statement. [6245]
§ Angela EagleMy Department has not commissioned any research on these subjects. However, both the recovery of solvent waste to make fuel and the burning of secondary liquid fuels (SLF) are regulated by the Environment Agency under the Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) regime. Each application for authorisation to burn SLF requires assessment of the likely environmental impacts. Details of these assessments must be placed in public registers in the relevant locality.
In addition, on 14 June, the Agency published the results of an extensive air monitoring study in the Clitheroe area of Lancashire. This study comprised emissions monitoring from industrial sites including Castle Cement's Ribblesdale cement works—which burns blended waste solvents together with traditional fuels—together with ambient air quality testing. The full results of the study have been forwarded to the Department of Health for evaluation.
The Environment Agency's response of 16 June to the House Environment Committee's report on the Environmental Impacts of Cement Manufacture also 242W commits it to carry out further research and to publish guidance in respect of appropriate disposal routes for waste solvents.