Composting (Hansard, 8 January 2001)

§ Helen Jackson
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consideration his Department is giving to grant-aiding the development of small-scale composting projects. [143909]

§ Mr. Mullin
The spending review provided substantial extra funds to local authorities for waste management. In particular, we shall soon consult on how to allocate the £140 million provided as a separate sum for waste and recycling, including composting. In addition, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is currently consulting on proposals for the next round of lottery funding (the New Opportunities Fund), including a new £150 million programme to foster environmental renewal 375W across the UK. It is proposed that around one third of the available funding for England would help expand community sector waste reuse, recycling and composting.

§ Helen Jackson
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what representations he has received from local bodies about revising the exemption from waste management licensing for small-scale composting sites; [143908]
(2) if he will revise the exemption from waste management licensing for small-scale composting sites. [143907]

§ Mr. Mullin
We are currently reviewing the exemption from waste management licensing for small-scale composting. The broad aim of our review is to continue to encourage the development of composting by the provision of a licensing exemption in a way which fulfils the objectives of article 4 of the waste framework directive—protection of the environment and human health.
We received last year the following representations from local bodies and individuals about revising the composting exemption:

Mr. Dave Middlemas and Mr. Richard Boden of the Community Composting Network, Sheffield;

Mr. Nigel Walker of EcoTech Garden Group, Norfolk;

Ms Rose Tannner, of the North East Sheffield Trust;

Mrs. V. Rawlinson of Manchester;

Ms Holly Tiffen of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust;

Mr. Stuart Wallace of Derby;

Mr. Ben Hooke of North London;

A constituent of Damien Green, MP for Ashford, Kent;

Ms Rebekah Hoyland of the Forest of Dean;

Mr. Ian Smith of Heeley City Farm, Sheffield;

Mr. Charlie Trousdell of KDS Composting Services, West Sussex;

Mr. Gareth Morton, of Save Waste and Prosper, Leeds;

Mr. Andy Moore, of the Community Recycling Network, Bristol.