To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for his assessment of (i) the current asbestos removal regulations, in particular in relation to the cost to the property owner; and (ii) how these costs impact the level of illegal and potentially hazardous removals and disposals.

(i)The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, associated with the removal of asbestos from privately owned properties, is the responsibility of the Health & Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI), an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for the Economy. Consequently, it is not for my Department to give an assessment of these regulations.

The movement of hazardous wastes, including those containing asbestos, is regulated under Hazardous Waste Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 for which my Department is the enforcing authority. These regulations set out a system for identifying and then recording the movement of waste deemed to be hazardous. The aim of this is to ensure that waste is recovered or disposed of whilst safeguarding human health and without using processes or methods (including its transportation) which could harm the environment

Under these regulations my Department (NIEA) charges a fee of £24 for the supply of each serial consignment number to consignors of hazardous waste (such as asbestos containing wastes) for use on the consignment note that tracks the waste movement. This fee has not been increased since it was inaugurated in 1998.

Further, as noted in my previous related reply (AQW 2135/22-27) a private householder may bring properly packaged asbestos containing wastes to a licensed site themselves without the need for a consignment note (they will need to contact the site in advance of travelling to find out whether any specific conditions apply) in which case no fee would apply.

All other costs associated with the removal and disposal of asbestos, i.e. contractor labour costs incurred in dismantling/removal and packaging the asbestos, its carriage costs and waste transfer station/landfill site charges are set on a commercial basis by the waste industry.

(ii) Asbestos is a product historically used in the Building Industry. As such illegal disposal of asbestos or asbestos containing wastes (ACW) reflects general trends in the building industry. The more building/renovation/demolition activity taking place the more ACW is generated to be disposed of, either legally or illegally.

NIEA operates a Flytipping Partnership with 7 Councils. Under this ACW that has been fly-tipped may be reported to NIEA for collection and disposal. NIEA can see no discernible trend in the amount of fly-tipped ACW collected and disposed of year on year.