§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further measures are planned to help increase the amount of household waste which is recycled. [102355]
§ Mr. MeacherLast year the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit examined the extent of the waste problem, pressures for change and recommended a range of measures to improve performance on sustainable waste management in its report "Waste Not Want Not". We will be publishing our response to the report shortly.
Since publication of Waste Strategy 2000, which set national targets for the recycling or composting of at least 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005 and 30 per cent. by 2010, we have set statutory recycling and composing targets for all local authorities to achieve these goals. We have also introduced the Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund to support local authority investment in appropriate infrastructure. We have also set up the Waste Resources Action Plan (WRAP) to help create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and to remove market barriers to waste minimisation, reuse and recycling. And the Waste Emissions and Trading Bill will, by setting reducing ceilings on the amount of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill, provide an indirect incentive to increase recycling.