§ Mr. Gordon MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ban the burning of hazardous composite waste fuels by industry. [28968]
§ Angela EagleThe burning of such waste derived fuels by industry is regulated under the Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) regime. The Environment Agency is responsible for the enforcement of both IPC and the waste management licensing regime in England and Wales. These regimes provide for rigorous controls and the Agency has powers to prevent or prohibit potentially harmful industrial activities, where it sees fit. The Government have made it clear that they expect the Agency, in performing its functions, to set appropriate standards which fully protect public health and the environment and then to enforce those standards firmly, in accordance with its statutory duties. We expect the Environment Agency to continue to consider applications to burn fuels comprised of waste on their merits, in this light.