HC Deb 20 June 1990 vol 174 cc568-9W
Mr. Bowis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities responsible for recycling have installed magnetic separators for reclaiming reusable steel.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on Thursday 26 April 1990,Official Report, column 296.

Mr. Janman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government's new legislation on the environment will allow local authorities to enter into index-linked contracts to supply waste to private companies seeking to recycle and reclaim that waste, on a joint venture basis where the private partner is covering all capital costs whilst simultaneously allowing the local authority a minority position on the board of directors of the joint venture company.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

[holding answer 19 June 1990]: Yes. We expect that local authorities will want to enter into long-term contracts for waste disposal, in which index-linking may well be appropriate. Authorities will also be encouraged to enter into joint ventures with private sector disposal companies, as a means of securing private sources of finance for capital schemes.

Mr. Janman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will outline the regulations and intentions that govern the consideration of proprietary technologies in a competitive tendering process for the disposal of domestic waste; and how he will assess those technologies that emerge offering the ability to recycle and reclaim domestic waste.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

[holding answer 19 June 1990]: There are no plans to issue regulations governing the consideration of proprietary technologies for the disposal of waste. Individual disposal authorities will make their own decisions about awarding contracts having regard to the potential of new technologies that are developed for disposal and recycling.

Mr. Janman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will require disposal or other authorities to give a value to waste recycled or reclaimed, by volume, at the competitive tendering stage; and what steps he will take to ensure that tendering contractors are not disadvantaged by cheap landfilling during the consideration of such tenders.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

[holding answer 19 June 1990]: Disposal authorities will be encouraged, through the provisions of the Environmental Protection Bill, to maximise recycling and waste minimisation. Contractors will be able to estimate the potential value of waste to be recycled and will adjust their contract price accordingly. It will then be for disposal authorities to consider tenders on their respective merits having regard to environmental factors. There will be no requirement to accept the lowest bid.

Mr. Janman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will require the real costs of landfill to be considered, as opposed to gate fees, when competitive tenders for waste disposal are made.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

[holding answer 19 June 1990]: The introduction of competitive tendering, under the provisions in the Environmental Protection Bill, will force all disposal contractors to bid on the basis of the full costs of waste disposal, including the restoration and after-care of landfill sites.