Hazardous waste: Seeking solutions in a fog of uncertainty

The Hazardous Waste Forum will shortly advise the Government to make urgent contingency plans - including emergency storage capacity - to deal with hazardous wastes between the entry into force of the EU ban on co-disposal landfills next July and the provision of new treatment and landfill capacity. Much will hang on long overdue rules from the Environment Department to determine the range of wastes which can be accepted at landfills. Causing greatest concern are contaminated soils, wastes from the non-ferrous metal industry, air pollution control residues and oily wastes. Now, a high-profile campaign from the urban regeneration lobby - which is concerned that brownfield work could grind to a halt - looks set to raise the political stakes.