§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 27 July to the hon. Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire),Official Report, column 815, if he will specify the initiatives taken by his Department's business and environment unit to give more focus to recycling.
§ Mr. ForthMy Department's business and the environment unit, formed in June of this year, is developing a number of initiatives to encourage increasing recycling of industrial residues and household waste. These include presentations to and sponsorship of a series of conferences, seminars and workshops; collaborating in the preparation of primary and secondary school education packs; participating in the "Recycling City" experiment; commissioning a range of recycling research and advisory work; and providing advice on recycling matters to trade associations, individual companies, local authorities, voluntary groups, and the general public. An advisory group, consisting of representatives of a wide range of interests in recycling, has also been established under the unit's chairmanship. It has met once so far.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives he has taken towards the recovery of small-scale batteries for materials recycling; 13W and what communications he has with the European Commission on the matter of battery recovery and recycling.
§ Mr. ForthBattery recycling is an established industry in the United Kingdom, but is almost entirely concentrated upon the larger lead acid and nickel cadmium cells, and the smaller silver oxide and mercury button cells. As part of a collaborative project, Waren Spring laboratory is carrying out research into methods of recovering small consumer batteries from the domestic waste stream. In December 1988, the European Commission presented a proposal for a directive covering batteries and accumulators containing dangerous substan-ces. Negotiations on the proposal have yet to begin but, if adopted, the directive would have implications for battery recovery and recycling in member states.