When the co-disposal of hazardous waste ends in July 2004, the number of sites in Wales licensed to take hazardous or “special” waste will drop from nine to zero.
Under current classification, 630,000 tonnes of hazardous waste was generated in Wales in 2001, of which 165,500 tonnes went to landfill. The Welsh Assembly is hoping waste companies will build treatment facilities to process this and has said they will be able to apply for European funding to support such projects.
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Hazardous Waste Summit 2004 Providing more clarity on changes to UK hazardous waste regulations
Including speakers from:
London, March 24, 2004
For more information and the chance to book online, |
Cathy O'B;rien, waste strategy officer for the Assembly, told letsrecycle.com: “We would obviously like to get as much of that 165,500 tonnes treated in Wales as we can.”
The Welsh European Funding Office is now inviting companies to register their interest in building hazardous waste treatment plants for Wales. These companies will then work with the funding office to develop draft specifications for treatment plants and the judging criteria for European funding.
Ms O'B;rien explained: “The money that is available from Europe is under the Objective One funding for Wales, which is for diverting waste from landfill, so we cannot fund hazardous waste landfill but we can fund hazardous waste treatment.”
Ms O'B;rien added that she realised unless a company already has planning permission, the extra capacity Wales needs may not come online before the end of co-disposal. She said: “I am slightly sceptical whether the capacity can get online by July but it shouldn't be too long after that.”
The Welsh Assembly also is preparing to launch a publicity campaign to raise awareness amongst businesses of how the new hazardous waste regulations may affect them, Ms O'B;rien said.
for more information on the Welsh hazardous waste initiative, contact Jonathon.Jones1@wales.gsi.gov.uk by the end of March 2004.
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