§ 20. Mr. Jim Cunningham (Coventry, South) (Lab)If she will make a statement on the United Kingdom's progress towards the introduction of home-based waste separation for recycling. [160298]
§ The Minister for the Environment (Mr. Elliot Morley)Waste management is a devolved matter. In 2001–02,58 per cent. of households in England received a kerbside collection of recyclable materials separate from the residual waste. The Household Waste Recycling Act 2003 requires all waste collection authorities in England to collect at least two recyclable materials separate from the residual waste by the end of 2010.
§ Mr. CunninghamI thank my hon. Friend for that answer. What is he doing to encourage local authorities to sort out waste management, and, in particular, to deal with the large number of refrigerators stored in various places? Nothing is being done to recycle them.
§ Mr. MorleyNew measures have been brought in to encourage local authorities to develop more kerbside collection. They include additional funds through the challenge fund and the waste minimisation fund. With regard to the separation of dry recyclates, there has been enormous progress in the past couple of years by local authorities, for which they deserve great credit. I very much hope that those local authorities that have not made as much progress will recognise the standards of the best and bring their standards up to them.