§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures his Department has taken to monitor the level of research into recycling. [29851]
§ Mr. ClappisonResearch into the many diverse forms of recycling is of interest to a wide range of policy areas in Government. Steps taken to monitor this research vary according to the needs of each policy area. The Enviroment Agency is under a duty to monitor research in the areas for which it is responsible, namely the regulation of solid waste, water and air quality.
As far as materials recycling is concerned, both my Department and the Environment Agency fund relevant research, including work on related economic and statistics issues. My Department also funds the Waste Management Information Bureau which collates information on waste research worldwide.