§ Sue DoughtyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the Hazardous Waste Forum's recommendations for contingency plans to give temporary authorisation for export of hazardous waste to mainland Europe; and if she has discussed this possibility with European governments; [164076]
(2) what estimate she has made of the total potential hazardous waste storage capacity available from businesses using the exemption on temporary storage of hazardous waste at the place of production in paragraph 41 of Schedule 3 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994; and what plans she has to amend the regulations to increase the volumes of waste that may be stored under this exemption; [164074]
(3) what contingency measures site is putting in place in the event of a shortfall in (a) treatment and (b) disposal capacity for hazardous wastes following (i) 1016W the end of co-disposal in July 2004 and (ii) the enforcement of the Waste Acceptance Criteria in July 2005; and if she will make a statement; [164075]
(4) what sites she has identified on a contingency basis as suitable for the storage of hazardous wastes from July 2004. [164077]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 26 March 2004]: We have a series of actions programmed, as presented to the seventh meeting of the Hazardous Waste Forum, to ensure the smooth implementation of the Landfill and Hazardous Waste Directives, and, in particular, the ban on co-disposal. The impact of expected higher costs on disposal and treatment provides a greater incentive for waste minimisation at source, through source separation and segregation of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. Future arisings of hazardous waste are therefore uncertain. In addition, higher costs of landfill will enable alternative treatments to be more economically viable, diverting hazardous waste from landfill. The Government and the Environment Agency are monitoring closely, through a range of measures, waste industry plans for the provision of treatment and disposal capacity, and the response of waste producers and will continue to do so. A number of possible response options exist, including those identified by the Forum, should these be necessary.
§ Sue DoughtyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 11 March 2004,Official Report, column 1620W, on hazardous waste, how many of the (a) 100,000 special waste producers and (b) 750,000 future hazardous waste producers (i) her Department and (ii) the Environment Agency have contacted to inform them of the requirements of the Landfill Directive relating to hazardous waste. [165324]
§ Mr. MorleyClearly it is a challenge to communicate directly with many thousands of companies and the Department is continually looking at the communication systems it employs to test their effectiveness. In respect of consulting business on issues of importance, electronic communications such as websites and e-mails are used extensively and the Department relies on informing trade associations and small business services in the expectation that they will pass the information on to their members.
Specifically in relation to Landfill Directive/ hazardous waste issues. a dedicated Communications Manager has developed a co-ordinated communications strategy in conjunction with the Environment Agency, Envirowise and the DTI—to address all the key stakeholder requirements. One part of this strategy is to set up a communications network across the country, with active participation by industry and relevant trade associations.
Key activities planned over the next few months include:
a targeted mail shot directed at small businesses;dissemination of a series of information leaflets to producers and the waste management industry focused on providing guidance, details of timings, responsibilities and where to go for additional information;1017Wseminars directed at 'new' waste producers;roadshows across the country to raise awareness of the legislation, its implications, minimisation and help available for businesses;targeted media articles focused on the key waste streams and industry sectors; andattending a series of third party events through the provision of support e.g. speakers for events being held by other organisations (e.g. the Chemical Industries Association, the Engineers Employers Federation and the Environmental Industries Commission).These activities follow up earlier actions by the Department and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to implement the 1999 Landfill Directive in England and to divert waste from landfill. These include:
preparation and issue of Waste Strategy 2000;conducting six rounds of public consultation on aspects of the Landfill Directive;setting up four stakeholders groups—including the Hazardous Waste Forum, and the Landfill Directive Implementation Group;publishing an action plan on the reduction and environmentally sound management of hazardous waste;issuing guidance material by the Environment Agency, e.g. on defining and classifying hazardous waste;arranging bilateral meetings with a wide range of industry and other interests; commissioning research and other projects (either direct or though the Hazardous Waste Forum or the Environment Agency);setting up the Waste and Resources Action Programme to develop markets for recycled materials (so diverting waste away from landfill); andintroducing the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund to support projects that use waste materials (e.g. construction and demolition waste) to replace primary aggregates.