§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to how many local authority municipal refuse sites have equipment to enable steel cans to be magnetically separated from the waste stream; and what plans he has to encourage an increase in the number of such facilities.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryAbout 37 local authorities have equipment for the magnetic extraction of steel cans and about 20 authorities currently operate such facilities. An expert recycling advisory group, which includes Government and local authority representation, has been considering various measures to encourage recycling, including the provision of additional sorting and separation facilities. The findings of the group will be taken into account in the forthcoming White Paper on the environment.