HC Deb 26 May 2004 vol 421 cc1648-9W
Mr. Gregory Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in Northern Ireland during the last three years to reach Government recycling targets. [175530]

Angela Smith

The Waste Management Strategy for Northern Ireland set targets for the recovery of household waste (25 per cent. by 2005–06) and a reduction in the landfilling of industrial and commercial waste (to 85 per cent. of 1998 levels by 2005).

The household waste recovery rate has increased steadily since 1998–99 when it was 4.9 per cent. The following table shows year on year figures. The 2003 figures are still being collated and will be available in June 2004. These however are expected to show a further improvement. The 2002 survey of industrial and commercial waste arisings indicated a 36.8 per cent. reduction in landfilling of industrial and commercial waste since 1998.

percentage
Household recovery rate (recycling and composting)
1998–99 4.9
1999–2000 6.6
2001 8.9
2002 9.8
2003 1
1 Not available until June 2004.