§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made by his Department's business and the environment unit in encouraging firms to reduce and recycle industrial waste.
§ Mr. ForthSince its formation in June last year, the business and the environment unit has made good progress in implementing its programme to encourage firms to reduce and recycle industrial waste. A brochure entitled "Cutting Your Losses" was published in November last year, to coincide with a major CBI/DTI/DOE conference on waste minimisation. A series of regional seminars on waste minimisation is planned for 1990. The unit has also participated in numerous other seminars, conferences and exhibitions to help spread the message that waste reduction and recycling make economic and environmental sense. I am confident that this programme, together with the work of the recycling advisory group, will bring about significant improvement in waste reduction and recycling.