Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that ash produced from the burning of wood pellets is disposed of in a manner that is safe for (a) the environment and (b) public health.

Drax power station is regulated by the Environment Agency (EA) under the conditions of its environmental permit and is required to operate in such a way as to minimise the risk of pollution. Ash generated at Drax Power Station is sent to the adjacent Barlow Mound landfill for disposal.

Barlow Mound landfill is for ash and other specified wastes from Drax and is regulated under a separate environmental permit and includes controls to monitor and minimise the impact on the environment. This includes monitoring to assess potential impacts to both surface and groundwater around the site.

For public health the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a consultee for Environmental Permitting decisions made by the EA in relation to sites such as power stations.