HC Deb 09 June 2003 vol 406 cc578-9W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether a licence to operate a hazardous waste site includes permission(a) to store and (b) to process asbestos waste. [116201]

Mr. Meacher

Waste management licences are site specific and are subject to individual conditions regulating the activity in question. Whether a licence for a hazardous waste site includes permission to store and process asbestos waste will depend on

  1. (a) what has been applied for in respect of that site; and
  2. (b) what the Agency has permitted in that particular case.

This will depend on whether the land in question has the benefit of the necessary planning permission.

Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how asbestos at waste disposal sites is classified; and if she will make a statement. [116206]

Mr. Meacher

All asbestos waste is classified as hazardous waste for the purposes of disposal and should go to landfill, either to a designated hazardous waste site or to a stabilised cell for non-reactive hazardous wastes within a non-hazardous waste site.

For the purposes of classification, landfill sites in England and Wales are regulated by the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002. In those Regulations, "hazardous waste" is defined as any waste as defined in Article 1(4) of the Hazardous Waste Directive (Directive 91/689/EEC).

Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the addresses of waste disposal and recycling sites in the United Kingdom licensed by the Environment Agency to accept bonded asbestos. [116207]

Mr. Meacher

The Environment Agency has provided a list of sites which are specifically licensed to accept bonded asbestos. A copy of this has been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what monitoring of bonded asbestos at waste disposal sites other than operator pollution risk appraisals is carried out by the Environment Agency. [116209]

Mr. Meacher

There is no specific monitoring required of bonded asbestos at waste disposal sites.

Each case will be considered using risk assessment methodology and any necessary arrangements put in place accordingly.