HC Deb 14 May 1992 vol 207 cc186-7W
Mr. Win Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps are being taken to meet the target of recycling 25 per cent. of all household waste by the end of the century; and if he will make a statement outlining the present percentage of household waste that is recycled in Wales and by how much it has changed since 1990.

Mr. Gwilym Jones

The measures being taken nationally to promote recycling are outlined in the first year report on the Environment White Paper, "This Common Inheritance" (Cm 1655).

In Wales the action taken comprises

guidance to local authorities on devising and implementing recycling strategies in the form of waste management paper No. 28; a request to authorities to submit recycling plans by 1 August in accordance with section 49 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; the introduction of a system of recycling credits under section 52 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 together with associated advice and guidance to authorities on the scheme in the form of Welsh Office circular 10/92.

Reliable estimates of the percentage of household waste that is recycled in Wales are not available, but steps are being taken nationally to obtain more accurate data.