Waste Disposal (Hansard, 15 July 1992)

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards waste disposal being(a) recycled and (b) localised; what action he is taking to give recycled and localised waste disposal advantages over (i) non-recycled and (ii) major centralised waste disposal respectively; and what relevant statistics he has for each category both (1) at present and (2) for the year 2000.

§ Mr. Maclean
It is Government policy that the production of solid waste should be minimised. Failing that, waste should be reused, recycled or incinerated with energy recovery. It should only be landfilled as a last resort. The provision of waste disposal facilities, whether small and local or large and centralised, is a matter for waste disposal authorities in consultation with the planning authority. Waste collection authorities are also under a duty to prepare recycling plans which are due to be submitted in draft to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment by 1 August. Our target is that 25 per cent. of household waste should be recycled by 2000, compared with about 5 per cent. at present. The collection of statistical information on waste recycling and disposal is currently under review.

§ Ms. Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has issued to ensure that the actual and full costs of waste disposed by(a) landfill and (b) incineration are reflected in (a) the charges levied by waste disposal authorities and (b) the calculation for recycling credits.
836W

§ Mr. Maclean
Waste disposal authorities, except for the statutory waste disposal authorities which are a special case, do not levy charges in respect of waste disposal. The statutory joint authorities' power to make levies on their constituent councils is set out in the Waste Regulation and Disposal (Authorities) Order 1985, SI 1985 No. 1884. The method to be used for setting the values of recycling credits is set out in the Environmental Protection (Waste Recycling Payments) Regulations, SI 1992 No. 462. Guidance to authorities on operating the system of recycling credits is provided in circular 4/92.

§ Ms. Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those waste disposal authorities which have set up local authority waste disposal companies in conjunction with the private sector; and in the case of each authority, which private company has been the successful bidder.

§ Mr. Maclean
No LAWDCs have yet been established.