HC Deb 02 July 1996 vol 280 cc398-9W
Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what representations he has received with regard to the waste management planning scheme; [34679]

(2) what assessment he has made of the compliance of the waste management planning scheme with article 3 of the European waste framework directive to encourage the recovery of waste by means of recycling. [34680]

Mr. Clappison

In December 1995, my Department published guidance on waste management planning. It set out the information that the Environment Agency should collect about how much waste was produced of each type, where, and by whom; and about facilities disposing of or recovering waste—including facilities recovering non-ferrous metals discarded as waste.

By following this guidance, the Environment Agency will be able to provide information to development planners to provide a framework for the increased recycling of all waste components, including non-ferrous metals.

The guidance covers advice on waste minimisation and the co-ordination of recycling activities in local authorities to make this more efficient and sustainable. Therefore, insofar as it is required, I am satisfied that the guidance delivers the requirements of article 3 of the waste framework directive.

We received a number of representations about the guidance from representatives of the non-ferrous metal recycling industry.