§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements will be made for evaluating the environmental impact of recyclable materials in products before a Europewide standard for recycling comes into force.
§ Mr. LeighI have been asked to reply.
I have no reason to believe that a Europewide standard for recycling is coming into force, or being contemplated. However, my Department has commissioned Warren Spring laboratory to carry out research into the environmental impact of recycling. In addition, the recyclability of materials used in products may feature as one of the criteria for the award of ecolabels under the recently agreed EC ecolabelling regulation.
§ Mr. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements have been made for exchange of manufacturing information relating to recyclable materials across Europe.
§ Mr. LeighI have been asked to reply.
404WNo arrangements of a formal nature have been put in place, but my Department and the Department of the Environment participate in international and EC conferences, seminars and workshops at which recycling issues generally are debated, and views exchanged.