§ Mr. MerchantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage further recycling of household waste. [40331]
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§ Mr. ClappisonThe Government's overall policy aim for achieving more sustainable waste management is to increase the proportion of waste managed by the options towards the top of the waste hierarchy, including recycling. Specific measures to encourage further recycling of household waste are set out in the draft "Waste Strategy for England and Wales", which was published for consultation earlier this year. A copy has been placed in the Library. In particular, our initiative on producer responsibility for packaging waste will play a key role in developing the local infrastructure, and encouraging higher rates of recycling together with other factors such as the rising cost of waste disposal and the rising value of secondary raw materials.