Co-disposal of hazardous waste – mixing it with non-hazardous waste before disposing of it in landfill sites – will no longer be allowed from July 2004 under terms of the Landfill Directive.
While 182 sites in England and Wales have been able to take hazardous waste in 2003, the number of sites able to take hazardous waste after that date is thought to be as low as 10 – including none in Wales of the South East of England.
Speaking to the House of Commons on Thursday, Liberal Democrat MP Sue Doughty warned there was “deep concern” resulting from “DEFRA's failure to provide sufficient sites for hazardous waste”.
Separate cell
But, responding to the MP for Guildford, Mr Morley said: “The regulations that prevent co-disposal in existing sites do not prevent the construction of a separate cell, where hazardous waste can continue to be put on site, but apart from domestic waste.
“I am surprised that that issue has not emerged in the discussion that is taking place. That is not, in itself, a difficult technical solution, and some potential consequences of these changes have been grossly exaggerated,” he said.
Mr Morley added he would be meeting industry representatives “in the very near future” to discuss the hazardous waste issue.
Note: The Environment Agency has said there will be a shortfall in hazardous waste capacity from July 2004 because of the ban on the co-disposal of hazardous and non hazardous waste at existing landfills. “This is as a result of the Landfill directive – sites have to elect to be either hazardous, non hazardous or inert, and after July can only dispose of hazardous waste in a landfill classified as being for that purpose. The Landfill Directive also requires the pretreatment of waste before it can be landfilled.”
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