WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3006/97 by Roberta ANGELILLI to the Commission. The presence of dangerous waste in a disused warehouse belonging to the chemical firm Zucchet in Rome
30. 4. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 134/55 (98/C 134/67) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3006/97 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (1 October 1997) Subject: The presence of dangerous waste in a disused warehouse belonging to the chemical firm Zucchet in Rome On 9 December 1996 Rome City Council decided by mayoral decree to clear all the waste remaining on the site of the warehouse and laboratory belonging to the Italian chemical firm Zucchet, which is now disused, in via Pian Due Torri (Magliana district). On the site, which backs onto the river Tiber and is near a sports centre and a number of dwellings, hundreds of metal canisters, containers and bags were found containing unidentified substances. However, despite the aforementioned decree, nobody has taken steps to implement it and all the waste is still in the former warehouse, despite the worrying reports issued by the local health office Rm D, pointing out the need to identify the waste substances. In view of all this, can the Commission say: 1. whether the case in question does not constitute an infringement of Directive 96/61/EC (1) concerning integrated pollution prevention and control, in particular Article 3(f), which establishes that the Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that all installations are operated in such a way as to avoid any risk of pollution when activities definitively cease and to return the site to a satisfactory state; 2. whether the case in question does not constitute an infringement of Directive 91/689/EEC (2) on hazardous waste; 3. whether, if infringements of Community environmental law are ascertained, the Commission intends to ask the Italian authorities to guarantee compliance with the law? (1) OJ L 257, 10. 10. 1996, p. 26. (2) OJ L 377, 31. 12. 1991, p. 20. Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (11 November 1997) The Honourable Member mentions that, despite the existence of a specific ordinance of 9 December 1996, the wastes generated by the chemical industry Zucchet are still stored in canisters and bags containing non-identified substances. Directive 75/442/EEC on waste as amended by Directive 91/156/EEC (1) prohibits the abandonment, dumping or uncontrolled disposal of waste. Furthermore, this Directive requires Member States to ensure that wastes are recovered or disposed of without endangering human health and without using processes or methods which could harm the environment. Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste (2) requires Member States to ensure that, on every site where tipping of hazardous waste takes place, it is recorded and identified. Moreover this Directive prohibits as a general rule the mixing of hazardous waste with other hazardous waste or with other waste, substances or materials. In the course of collection, transport and temporary storage wastes must be properly packaged and labelled in accordance with the international and Community standards in force. The Italian authorities have to ensure compliance with the above requirements, and the Commission will address them a letter on this matter. (1) OJ L 78, 26. 3. 1991. (2) OJ L 377, 31. 12. 1991