§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate she has made of the proportion of household waste which(a) could potentially be composted and (b) is composted; and if she will make a statement; [54601]
(2) what percentage of municipal waste was composted in the years (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54583]
(3) what assessment her Department has made of the scope for increasing composting capacity in the UK as a means of meeting EU Landfill Directive targets; and if she will make a statement. [54600]
487W
§ Mr. MeacherThe Landfill Directive, requires significant reductions in the amount of biodegradable municipal waste landfilled to 75 per cent. of that produced in 1995 by 2006, 50 per cent. by 2009 and 35 per cent. by 2016 (although countries such as the UK may use, if they wish, a derogation of up to four years for meeting each of these targets). To help achieve this, "Waste Strategy 2000" set targets for recycling and composting of household waste. In 2001 the Government set statutory performance standards for each local authority in England, which require them to double the overall recycling and composting rate by 2003–04 and treble it by 2005–06 over 1998–99 levels.
The Government strongly support composting as a way of disposing of biodegradable waste, and believes it has an important role to play. We are actively encouraging the composting of green waste at home, at municipal civic amenity sites and when separately collected by local authorities.
Potentially, all biodegradable waste can be composted, although some may be unsuitable for animal health reasons or because non-compostable wastes are present in the mix. Also, some wastes suitable for the composting process are better reused, recycled or recovered in other ways. "Waste Strategy 2000" (Part 2) indicates that 21 per cent. of household waste may be putrescible, while some 62 per cent. in total may be biodegradable. These proportions may vary seasonally (depending on green waste for example) and according to the amount of waste separated for recycling and home composting.
Figures from the DEFRA Municipal Waste Management Survey show there have been substantial increases in the amount of household waste collected for composting by local authorities in England and Wales—from 461,000 tonnes in 1998–99 to 670,000 tonnes in 1999–2000.
Data on the percentage of waste composted are available for household waste only. Household waste amounts to approximately 90 per cent. of all municipal waste. The latest results taken from the Department's Municipal Waste Management Survey are as follows:
Household waste composted1 in England and Wales Percentage 1996–97 1.2 1997–98 1.6 1998–99 1.9 1999–2000 2.6 1 Includes organic materials (kitchen and garden waste) collected for centralised composting schemes from households via kerbside schemes or taken by householders to civic amenity sites. Home composting is not included. Note:
The equivalent figures for 2000–01 are not yet available.
§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps her Department is taking to introduce best practice guidelines and safety regulations for the composting of household waste; [54550]
(2) what assessment her Department has made of the scope for encouraging composting initiatives within the retail sector; [54586]
(3) what steps her Department is taking to encourage home composting of domestic waste; [54584]
488W(4) what steps her Department is taking to promote community waste composting initiatives; and if she will make a statement; [54587]
(5) what steps her Department is taking to promote composting as a central part of the UK's waste management strategy; and if she will make a statement. [54551]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Government strongly support composting as a way of treating biodegradable waste, improving soil quality and replacing non-renewable products such as peat. We are actively encouraging the composting of green waste—at home, at municipal civic amenity and community composting sites and when separately collected by local authorities. Guidance on composting, including on safety issues, is produced by the Environment Agency.
To support composting activity, the 2000 spending review allocated £220 million Private Finance Initiative funding for waste management that can be used to deliver increased recycling/composting rates. It also established a new £140 million household waste and recycling fund to help local authorities meet their statutory performance standards for recycling and composting.
Although animal health legislation currently prohibits the land spreading of composted kitchen/catering waste which might contain meat, we have commissioned a risk assessment to assess the risks to public, animal and plant health from such compost. In the light of that assessment, we will review the legislation.
The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) are currently working with the Composting Association to develop the existing industry standard for compost, to achieve British Standards Institute (BSI) accreditation. The delivery of these accredited industry standards for compost will help to create markets for organic waste derived products. The creation of these new markets will be relevant to the retail sector when considering whether composting has a part to play in its waste management strategy (bearing in mind the present legal requirements).
"Waste Strategy 2000" places composting high in the hierarchy of preferred waste management options, and set targets for England and Wales to recycle or compost at least 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005. This national target is backed up by statutory targets for each local authority in England for 2003–04 and 200573x2013;06, and the 2000 spending review identified substantial additional resources to help deliver the statutory performance standards on recycling and composting.