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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if her Department will launch a public information campaign alerting businesses to their legal obligations as producers of waste. [183197] Mr. Morley: The Department is taking a range of measures to inform businesses of their legal obligations as producers of waste. Defra has issued a code of practice and information leaflet covering the duty of care requirements which are set out in Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. We are currently reviewing the duty of care regime which will result in a consultation later in the year and should assist in raising public awareness. With the forthcoming changes to the management of hazardous waste, a dedicated hazardous waste web portal will be available at www.hazardouswaste.org.uk from the 16 July 2004. Other measures to inform businesses of these changes include leaflets, updated and signposted Defra, Environment Agency and Envirowise websites, press releases, case study material and a communication network, established primarily through the Hazardous Waste Forum. The Envirowise programme, which is partly funded by Defra, offers businesses in the UK advice on their legal obligations relating to waste, together with a range of support and guidance on waste minimisation. Defra and the Department for Trade and Industry are informing businesses of their obligations under the Packaging Regulations and the forthcoming Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations and End of Life Vehicles (ELV) Regulations. For example, during the implementation of the WEEE directive the Government have organised over 50 workshops to alert stakeholders to the regulations. Defra also supports the Environment Agency-led NetRegs project, which provides businesses with an online plain English guide to the environmental legislation that applies to them, and how to comply with it.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

183197; 424 c260-1W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Codes of practice Business Hazardous substances Electronic equipment Internet Leaflets Publicity Packaging Waste management Hazardous Waste Forum Envirowise

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk