§ Dr. PughTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the 2005–06 waste-recycling targets for local waste collection authorities set out in her Department's waste consultation document were arrived at. [44349]
§ Mr. MeacherWaste Strategy 200 sets out a commitment to recycle or compost at least 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005. Under the national Public Service Agreement we committed to targets of 17 per cent. household waste recycling/composting by 2003–04 and 25 per cent. by 2005–06.
Taking a baseline of 1998–99 performances, targets for 2003–04 and 2005–06 were calculated for each waste collection and disposal authority in England. 2005–06 targets were calculated as follows:
authorities with 1998–99 rates of under 6 per cent. should achieve at least 18 per cent. by 2005–06;those with 1998–99 rates of between 6 per cent. and 12 per cent. should at least treble their recycling/composting rate by 2005–06;the remainder should recycle or compost at least 40 per cent. of household waste by 2005–06.These standards were proposed in the consultation document "Best Value and Audit Commission Performance Indicators for 2001–02" and were implemented in the Best Value Order 2001. Performance standards for individual authorities are detailed in the "Guidance on Municipal Waste Management Strategies" published in March 2001.