§ Sue DoughtyTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of waste produced in her Department was(a) recycled, (b) composted and (c) re-used, broken down into (i) paper, (ii) plastics, (iii) aluminium cans and (iv) other, in each year since 1997; what plans there are to increase the proportions; and if she will make a statement. [65695]
§ Clare ShortFigures prior to 2000 are not available, as precise volumes were not being measured. Some measuring systems were initiated in 2000 but were not sufficiently comprehensive to enable proportions to be quoted in the format requested.
In April 2000, recording of paper sent for recycling commenced at our main London office and averaged 300kg/wk in the initial months. This increased by 30 per cent following an office awareness-raising campaign in September 2000. Other recycling streams initiated during 2000 included plastic cups, aluminium cans, glass. newspaper, toner cartridges and used fluorescent tubes. Since December 2001, our main London office has been using a Government-approved waste contractor (John W Hannay) who collect all mixed office waste daily and sort it on receipt into 12 recycling streams. They state that they recycle over 90 per cent and send under ten per cent to landfill. This system also obviates the need for time-consuming sortingand recording of individual waste streams at source. We are currently exploring the possibility of extending this system to our other main office in East Kilbride, and will also be conducting environmental audits of our overseas offices with a view to expanding recycling, composting and re-use where local circumstances permit.
When we relocated to a new London office towards the end of 2001;eight giant walk-in skips were filled with waste paper for recycling. Obsolete computer equipment was sent to the charity Computer Aid for reuse (including in developing countries) and surplus obsolete office furniture was donated to local schools and other charities. For the final office clearance we used a Government-approved company (Azcom, via a call-down contract with the Disposal Sales Agency) who reuse and recycle as much cleared material as possible as an alternative to landfill.
DFID is wholly committed to the Green agenda and targets, and is in the process of finalising an Environmental Management System covering all aspects of operational activities. Improved recording and monitoring procedures will form an integral part of that system when it is up and running.