WRITTEN QUESTION E-2674/99 by Jillian Evans (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Possible health effects of waste to energy incinerators.
Date: 2000-01-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Wales, air quality, energy production, environmental impact, health risk, residential area, standard, storage of waste, waste incineration

C 330 E/40

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

21.11.2000

(2000/C 330 E/043)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2672/99

by J(cid:252)rgen Zimmerling (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 January 2000)

Subject: Objective 2 support

On 24 November 1999 the Commission identified the regions of West Germany to be supported by the
EU in the 2000-2006 support period. The new German Objective 2 regions includes parts of the Ruhr
district in North Rhine-Westphalia.

1. What objectives has the Federal Government submitted for support in the Ruhr district?

2. What parts of the Ruhr district are to receive support?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2000)

On 15 September 1999 the German Federal Ministry of Economics transmitted an admissible proposal for
an objective 2 list for the period 2000-2006. On the basis of this proposal and the rules of the Council
Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 (1), the Commission took a decision in principle on the
German objective 2 list on 24 November 1999. The Commission has subsequently consulted the relevant
committees. The final decision on eligibility will be taken by the Commission in the near future.

Regarding the new objective 2 areas of Nordrhein-Westfalen, only one minor change has been introduced
into the German proposal of 15 September 1999 upon Commission request: a small isolated area in the
city of Bochum of 235 inhabitants which had been originally proposed by the Geman authorities was not
considered significant by the Commission. The German authorities thus withdrew the proposal for this
area.

The new objective 2 list of Nordrhein-Westfalen will consist of parts of the cities of Duisburg, Krefeld,
Oberhausen, Gelsenkirchen, Bottrop, Dortmund, Hamm, Bochum, and Herne as well as parts of the Kreise
of Wesel, Reckinghausen, Unna, Warendorf, Ennepe-Ruhr, and Heinsberg. The population eligible for
support under objective 2 in Nordrhein-Westfalen will total 2 888 229 inhabitants. The detailed list of
areas eligible under objective 2 is sent directly to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat general of
the Parliament. Even though the Ruhrgebiet does not correspond to the NUTS classification of the
Commission it is appropriate to say that the objective 2 list of Nordrhein-Westfalen will comprise a
significant part of the population and of the area of the Ruhrgebiet.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2000/C 330 E/044)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2674/99

by Jillian Evans (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(12 January 2000)

Subject: Possible health effects of waste to energy incinerators

Given the concern of people in communities in Wales about the possible health effects of waste to energy
incinerators which are located near housing,

could the Commission answer the following questions:

1. What standards are used to regulate the proximity of a landfill site to housing?

2. What standards are used to regulate the proximity of power generators fuelled by the incineration of

waste to housing?

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 330 E/41

3. What scientific studies have been carried out on the health effects of waste to energy incinerators on

communities in the EU?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(4 February 2000)

There are no specific standards for the distance of a landfill site to housing. However, Annex I to Council
Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste (1) provides that the location of a landfill
must take into consideration requirements relating to the distance from the boundary of the site to
residential areas.

The approach taken in regulating the co-existence of industry and housing is twofold. On the one hand,
Community legislation provides for requirements to limit the impact regardless of the location; and on the
other hand it sets quality standards for ambient air or water. There is no specific legislation which
regulates the distance between industrial installations and housing areas.

Most studies concerning health effects have been carried out on the basis of specific pollutants rather than
specific industrial sources, since the chemistry of pollutants is independent of the source. However, several
preparatory studies were carried out to evaluate the costs and benefits of the current proposal for a
directive on waste incineration (2). In particular the study (cid:145)Economic evaluation of the draft incineration
directive(cid:146) (3) gives a good overview of the impact of municipal waste incineration.

Though it has financed a number of projects relating to the health effects of air pollution in general, the
Commission has not financed any studies on the specific effects of waste incinerators on human health.
However, the work programme of the (cid:145)Environment and health(cid:146) key action of the (cid:145)Quality of life and
management of living resources(cid:146) thematic programme (4) of the 5th framework programme of research and
technological development (RTD) is open for proposals on that subject.

(1) OJ L 182, 16.7.1999.
(2) OJ C 372, 2.12.1998.
(3)
(4) OJ L 64, 12.3.1999.

ISBN 92-828-0083-0, European Communities 1997.

(2000/C 330 E/045)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2700/99

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE), Torben Lund (PSE)
and Cristina Garc(cid:237)a-Orcoyen Tormo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 January 2000)

Subject: Revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive 94/62/EC

Article 6(3)(b) of Directive 94/62/EC (1), adopted in 1994 after lengthy negotiations, reads:

No later than six months before the end of the five-year phase referred to in paragraph 1(a) the
Council shall, acting by qualified majority and on a proposal from the Commission, fix targets for the
second five-year phase referred to in paragraph 1(c). This process shall be repeated every five years
thereafter.

Article 6(1)(c) reads:

No later than 10 years from the date by which this Directive must be implemented in national law, a
percentage of packaging waste will be recovered and recycled, which will have to be determined by
the Council in accordance with paragraph 3(b) with a view to substantially increasing the targets
mentioned in paragraph (a) and (b).