§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the latest draft of the proposed Used Oil Directive; [65894]
(2) how much of the waste oils produced in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the European Union are (i) recovered and recycled and (ii) burnt as fuel, as (1) a quantity and (2) a percentage in each case; [65893]
464W(3) what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of burning waste oil; [65891]
(4) what assessment he has made of the potential for recycling waste oils. [65892]
§ Mr. MealeNo reliable, recent figures of waste oil recovery and recycling are available for the United Kingdom. My officials have confirmed with the European Commission that no recent figures have been published for the European Union. The United Kingdom, along with other EU member states, is currently compiling information on waste oil for the European Commission. It is understood that the consolidated report will be available from the Commission at the end of June.
My Department has not carried out any recent studies of the environmental impact of burning waste oils. However, in carrying out its regulatory functions under the Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Environment Agency assesses applications according to the statutory requirements of Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) and Best Available Technique Not Entailing Excessive Cost (BATNEEC) as defined in Part 1 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. On the basis of environmental analyses of the small number of cases involving waste oils, the Agency has concluded that this process did not adversely affect the environment.
My officials have confirmed with the European Commission that no draft of the proposed Used Oil Directive has been issued.
At this stage, no assessment has been made of the potential for recycling waste oils.