§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities in England and Wales use incinerators to dispose of suitable household waste; and what plans he has to encourage more disposal of such rubbish by this method in the future.
§ Mr. TrippierThere are 30 municipal incinerators currently operated by local authorities in England and Wales and these dispose of some 8 per cent. of household waste. There is, however, no centrally held information on the number of local authorities which make use of these incinerators.
The Government encourage local authorities to employ the best practicable environmental means for the disposal of their waste. It is for them to determine what that may be in the light of local circumstances.