§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take action to make doorstep recycling available throughout the United Kingdom. [37271]
§ Mr. MeacherRecycling is a matter for the devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In England, approximately 43 per cent. of households receive this service and we expect the number to increase greatly. The Government have set statutory performance standards for all local authorities, which will triple the recycling and composting of household waste in the five years to 2005–06. Each authority will decide how best to meet these targets, taking into account local circumstances, but the Government encourage them to introduce or extend kerbside collection of recyclable waste, where this is environmentally and economically the best option.
The Government also found significant new resources for English local authorities in the last spending review, both in the general settlement and a separate fund of £140 million for the waste minimisation and recycling fund. The Scottish Executive and Welsh Assembly Government have also found extra resources for recycling.
The New Opportunities Fund has also identified £50 million for the UK to support community sector waste minimisation, re-use and recycling schemes, which may include kerbside schemes.