HC Deb 23 October 1973 vol 861 c465W
Mr. John

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what sum out of his departmental budget is currently devoted to the investigation of experiments with, and practice of, the recycling of waste materials and substances.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

Investigations relating to the recycling of waste materials are carried out in the main by the industries concerned and by the Department of Trade and Industry. On the advice of my Department's Standing Committee on Research into Refuse Collection, Storage and Disposal, a copy of whose first report I am sending to the hon. Member, support is being given to the following projects in which questions of both disposal and reclamation are involved:

  1. 1. Experimental work concerning mechanical separation of material from house refuse.
  2. 2. Experimental work on the pyrolysis of house refuse.
  3. 3. Used tyres—survey of arisings, and re-use and disposal practices.

My Department's current annual expenditure committed on these projects is £98,000.