HC Deb 17 January 1972 vol 829 cc53-4W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to give grants to local authorities to combine their efforts in salvaging waste paper, in order to preserve raw materials and safeguard the environment from pollution.

Mr. Peter Walker

Local authorities have wide powers for combining to discharge functions. The report of my Department's Working Party on Refuse Collection which was sent to local authorities in 1967 and a more recent report of the O. & M. Work Study Panel of the Local Authorities' Management Services and Computer Committee both advised local authorities contemplating the collection of waste paper to ensure that the likely proceeds would cover their true costs.

Waste paper that is disposed of by local authorities does not pollute the environment, whether it is disposed of as salvage or in other ways. It is litter that pollutes.