'Close tanker loophole' call
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AN ATTACK on the lack of control over the dangerous waste being carried on Britain's roads ha; been made by Redland Purle, the country's largest waste disposal experts, at a conference on waste disposal.
Redland director Dr David Davies and transport controller Mr George Macka:' last week spoke at a conference, on carrying dangerous loads, organised by Cleveland police and Teesside Polytechnic.
"There is nothing to prevent the most toxic or lethal industrial wastes being carried about even in a plastic bag provided that it does not leak and is correctly labelled," said Dr Davies.
Mr MacKay said the regulations related only to the labelling of the vehicle and not the container in which the waste is being carried.
And to try to make scme kind of standard Redland has introduced its own minimum design characteristics for its 70 tankers which now include quarter-inch mild steel tank shells, double valves separated by a shear section on the discharge pipe and an automatic shut-off valve on the pressure vacuum line.
Other standards now include quarter-inch coaming for the protection of lids if the tanker overturns, a double-valved sight glass and a fire extin guisher. They also have earthing reels and spikes and rear doors capable of resisting a 130-ton thrust.
The two men told the conference that practical measures that will help to avoid hazards in transport are based around labelling. The vehicle markings should be correct and so should the selection of the vehicle for the job involved.
Dr Davies told his audience : "The main aim of the waste disposal industry must be to ensure that wastes of all types are disposed of safely without creating any environmental hazard. In recent years this has led to regionalisation of facilities especially for hazardous waste.
" At present a hiatus exists and little is happening to bring new facilities into operation." This situation existed in both the public and private sectors, the Waste Disposal Authorities and the Regional Water Authorities.