Recycling (Hansard, 27 June 1990)

§ 59. Mr. Burns
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to introduce recycling credits for waste collection authorities.

§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
The Government intend to place a duty on waste disposal authorities to pay recycling credits to waste collection authorities in respect of waste diverted from disposal facilities by recycling. If Parliament approves this proposal, comprehensive guidelines will be published to advise authorities on how the system should operate.

§ 114. Mr. Evennett
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what responses he has received from local authorities regarding the idea of recycling credits for waste collection authorities.

§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
We have received 136 written responses from local authorities and oral comments from 10 others. Most were in favour of the proposals.

§ 83. Mr. Mans
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to promote the recycling of office grade paper.

§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
It is important to establish a reliable chain of collection and processing facilities. I was pleased to support the Friends of the Earth paper round project at its launch on 25 June; this project is receiving grant aid from my Department through UK 2000 to help to set itself up. The paper-making industry is expanding its manufacturing capacity and the Government are also giving a lead in specifying recycled paper wherever possible: my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, announced last week that the Department is prepared to pay a reasonable premium for recycled paper in order to encourage industry to increase volume production of such paper.