HC Deb 29 June 1978 vol 952 c647W
Mr. Maurice Macmillan

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities operate waste recycling schemes; what annual saving this represents after administrative costs; and which local authorities have been most successful in this sphere.

Mr. Marks

In 1976–77 some 190 local authorities in England reclaimed waste materials, mainly paper and ferrous metal. The national income to waste disposal authorities from the sale of reclaimed waste was £2.1 million, but comparable figures are not yet available for waste collection authorities. Because accounting practice varies between local authorities, it is not possible to specify the annual saving after administrative costs or which schemes are most successful in financial terms.