§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's policy is on recycling sewage sludge on land as an environmentally sustainable option; when the revised regulations will be available for consultation; and if she will make a statement. [71304]
§ Mr. MeacherAs stated in its Waste Strategy 2000, the Government considers that recovering value from sewage sludge through spreading on agricultural land is the best practicable environmental option in most circumstances. Agricultural use of sludge brings savings of several million pounds in fertiliser costs and the organic matter improves soil structure, its workability and water holding capacity.
The Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 (SI 1263) as amended in 1990 (SI 880), impose controls on the application of sludge to agricultural land to prevent the accumulation of heavy metals in the soil and to 271W prevent bacteriological contamination of crops. These controls are supplemented by a non-statutory Code of Practice and the "Safe Sludge Matrix" a voluntary agreement drawn up in 1998 by Water UK (representing the water companies) and the British Retail Consortium.
The Government welcomes the development of the Matrix and has indicated that it will reflect the tighter standards it contains in revised regulations. We plan to issue a consultation document seeking views on the proposed revisions in the very near future.