§ 28. Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress made by local authorities in improving recycling rates. [46538]
§ Mr. MeacherProvisional figures from the Department's latest Municipal Waste Management Survey show that the proportion of municipal waste recycled or composted has continued to increase, from 7 per cent. in 1996–97 to 12 per cent. in 2000–01. Local authorities are required to further improve their recycling rates in order to achieve the statutory targets the Government have set for them, to double their recycling rates within three years and treble them in five. The recently announced £140 million fund for waste minimisation and recycling will help them to do this.