HC Deb 15 July 2003 vol 409 cc153-5W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to promote plastic recycling. [124491]

Mr. Morley

The Government have set targets and provided funding for local authorities to ensure they increase their recycling capacity. It is for the local authority to decide which materials to collect.

The Packaging Regulations contain material specific targets, including plastics. The quantity of plastic packaging which is recycled should increase as a result of current negotiations to revise the EU Directive on packaging.

The Government have also established the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee with the aim of promoting sustainable waste management by creating stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products, including plastics.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to ensure that local authorities implement and promote doorstep recycling strategies. [124492]

Mr. Morley

The Government have set statutory performance standards (targets) requiring all local authorities to double their recycling, compared with 1999–2000, by 2003–04 and to trebling their recycling by 2005–06. We have not specified how these targets should be met, however we would expect doorstep collection to play an increasing role in meeting the targets.

The Government have supported the general principle of the Household Waste Recycling Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Joan Ruddock). The Bill addresses the issue of doorstep collection. It provides that where English waste collection authorities have a duty to collect waste they shall ensure, except in some circumstances, that by the end of 2010 they collect at least two recyclates separate from the remainder of the waste.

The Government have also provided local authorities with substantial financial support to enable them to increase their recycling operations. Spending Review 2002 increased provision in the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services block (which includes waste) by £671 million over the three years to 2005–06. We have also provided additional funding of £140 million for 2002–03 and 2003–04 through the ring-fenced Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's progress in allowing the introduction of home-based waste separation for recycling within the five-year timetable set by the EU. [124437]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 10 July 2003]Under the revision of the Packaging Waste Directive, the European Parliament recently voted for increased recovery and recycling targets for packaging waste to be met by 2008. The Directive does not specify the method by which these targets should be met. To meet the increased targets greater quantities of packaging waste will have to be collected from the household waste stream. We would expect to see industry working together with compliance schemes and local authorities to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to meet these targets.

Separately, my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Joan Ruddock) has introduced the Household Waste Recycling Bill which addresses the issue of doorstep collection. The Government support the general principle of the Bill and it has now completed Committee stage in the Commons. The Bill provides that where English waste collection authorities have a duty to collect waste they shall ensure, except in some circumstances, that by the end of 2010 they collect at least two recyclates separate from the remainder of the waste.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what budget has been set aside for the next five years to promote(a) recycling and (b) waste separation in homes. [124438]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 10 July 2003]The Strategy Unit Report 'Waste Not Want Not' recommended that the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) take forward a programme of public education and awareness, which will include recycling and waste separation. The Government have accepted this recommendation and WRAP is now in the process of drawing up the detailed programme. The majority of the resources allocated to the programme, which will amount to £3 million in 2003–04, will support local authority education schemes.

Budgets for the programme will be £10 million and £17 million in 2004–05 and 2005–06 respectively.