Conservatives claim Government “unprepared” for new waste directive
The Conservative Shadow Environment Secretary has accused the Government of being completely unprepared for a new EU hazardous waste directive that comes into force today.
The EU regulation, which was originally agreed in 1999, bans the disposal of hazardous waste alongside non-hazardous waste to reduce the risk of contaminating soil and ground water.
For the UK it means that the number of facilities licensed to accept hazardous waste will fall from 200 to 12 and with it the total capacity for untreated hazardous waste.
It is estimated that there will be a four million tonnes a year shortfall in capacity, which the Government hopes will be counterpoised by companies choosing to reduced and recycle their waste to keep costs down.
Tim Yeo, called for urgent action, saying: “The Government that allowed fridge mountains and abandoned cars to spoil our landscape are yet again utterly unprepared to deal with a directive on the environment, despite having five years to prepare for it.
“The number of landfill sites able to accept hazardous waste has now fallen from over 200 to 12. This will no doubt lead to even more fly-tipping and expose the countryside to dangerous, hazardous waste.
“In light of this, we now need to see much stronger penalties to deter fly-tipping; for example making it an arrestable offence.
Environment Minister Elliot Morley however said that the new directive would encourage companies to move away from landfill as a means of disposal. He said: “I want this country to end its ‘dump and forget’ culture. The public and industry alike need to understand that we cannot continue to dump hazardous waste in holes in the ground.”
Mr Morley said that operators who try to cut corners will not be tolerated, saying: “For years now, cheap landfill has been the most attractive option for the disposal of waste. For example, we have relied upon “dig and dump” of contaminated soil, which is 60% of all hazardous waste sent to landfill, because it has cost as little as £6 a tonne instead of treating and reusing it.
“Prices are going to rise and if people are not prepared to pay then they can expect unlimited fines and up to five years imprisonment. I’m glad to see there is already evidence of major brownfield sites treating contaminated soils on site rather than using landfill.”
Responding to concerns about the possibility of a rise in flytipping, Mr Morley said that the Environment Agency would be targeting problem areas and warning all hazardous waste producers that they have a “duty of care” to ensure that their waste is correctly disposed of.
Friends of the Earth said that they welcomed the new EU rules but criticised the Government for not doing enough to ensure the industry takes action.
Spokesperson Claire Wilton, said: “Communities should not have to suffer environmental pollution caused by fly-tipping. The Government must make sure there are enough places where hazardous waste can be safely disposed. The Government must also introduce policies to cut the amount of hazardous materials used to make products and clean up and to re-use contaminated land.”
