Written question asked by Martyn Jones (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 15 January 1997. It was answered by James Clappison (Conservative) on Wednesday, 15 January 1997 on behalf of the Department of the Environment.

Dept of the Environment

Question: If he will commission research into the biodegradation rates of domestic waste in landfill sites. - Inc ref to White Paper, "Making Waste Work".

Answer: Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will commission research into the biodegradation rates of domestic waste in landfill sites; and if he will make a statement. [10518] Mr. Clappison: The Department's research programme into the management of solid wastes with particular emphasis on landfill disposal processes has now been largely transferred to the Environment Agency. The waste strategy policy on landfill set out in the White Paper, "Making Waste Work" is to promote landfill practices which will achieve stabilisation of landfill sites within one generation. Current research is directed towards a bio-chemical-- bio-reactor--engineering approach to landfill to reduce the time taken for a site to become stable. Research results inform guidance set out in the revised series of waste management papers on landfill. WMP 26B, "Landfill Design, Construction and Operational Practice", published in 1995, describes the issues and indicates practices to achieve accelerated stabilisation.

Secondary information