§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the number of new treatment facilities that will be required to achieve compliance with the United Kingdom's obligations under the landfill directive. [43620]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Department, in conjunction with the National Assembly for Wales, the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly, has undertaken an assessment of the implications of the landfill directive for the future management of wastes banned from landfill.
The aims and objectives of the study were:
to identify and evaluate the potential impact of the landfill directive on the management of hazardous wastes and liquid wastes in the UK, andto identify and assess the alternative waste management options that may be available to ensure the continued safe management of wastes for which landfilling will be banned under the landfill directive.The study found that there was sufficient alternative disposal systems (in use or planned) to cope with the large volume of organic process waste streams requiring diversion from landfill. It also suggested that additional facilities might be required for oily wastes, contaminated soils, and inorganic chemical wastes. Copies of the study have been disseminated widely.
Further work is currently under way to assess the availability of pre-treatment facilities for those hazardous waste streams that can continue to go to landfill after July 2002.
§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the landfill directive regulations will he laid before Parliament. [43621]
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§ Mr. MeacherThe Government aim to lay the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations before the Easter recess.