HC Deb 19 October 1993 vol 230 cc195-6W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures are being taken by his Department to encourage the use of reduced quantities of(a) metals, (b) plastic and (c) paper in packaging; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Yeo

[holding answer 18 October 1993]: Over the past two years the Government have been conducting intensive discussions with a range of industries, including the packaging industry, to see what measures can be taken to reduce unnecessary packaging and improve the recycling rates of different packaging materials.

On 27 July we invited all sections of the packaging industry—manufacturers and fillers of packaging and retailers—to draw up a plan for raising current levels of recovery to between 50 and 75 per cent. by the year 2000.

We are asking these businesses collectively to take their share of responsibility for what happens to packaging once it has served its original purpose, while at the same time minimising the use of packaging wherever possible and encouraging reuse wherever practicable.

We have set five objectives which any industry plan must meet: First, there needs to be an effective organisation, spanning all the relevant business sectors, which can both draw up a plan and put it into action; Secondly, there needs to be a commitment by business to meet the costs of new collection and processing capacity and of developing a mechanism for raising the necessary finances; Thirdly, against the background of a build up in capacity to increase recovery levels to between 50 and 70 per cent. by the year 2000, to expand collection and processing capacity within the next year, Fourthly, to encourage industry to increase demand for recycled material where it meets the appropriate standards; Fifthly, to safeguard recycling infrastructure for plastic and paper and board, which are currently threatened by subsidised foreign imports.

We have invited leading figures in the industry to report back by the end of October on the action which they have taken to help collection and processing operations to continue, especially for waste paper, board and plastics. And we are asking them to present us with an effective plan for meeting all these objectives, before this Christmas.

Copies of two recent DOE press releases (Nos. 519 and 594) setting out our challenge to the packaging industry have been placed in the Library of the House.