HC Deb 19 February 1997 vol 290 cc599-600W
Ms Ruddock

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many aluminium can recycling sites there were in the United Kingdom at the latest available date; and how many were located at(a) supermarkets, (b) local authority aluminium can banks, (c) local authority drinks can banks and (d) other facilities. [16202]

Mr. Page

[holding answer 18 February 1997]: In 1994, there were 4,800 aluminium can collection points in the UK. Reliable data relating to their precise location are not yet available.

Source: Aluminium Can Recycling Association.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the capacity in the United Kingdom for recycling(a) glass, (b) plastics, (c) steel cans, (d) aluminium cans, (e) paper and card, (f) batteries, (g) tyres, (h) vehicles and (i) electrical and electronic equipment, at the latest available date. [16199]

Mr. Page

[holding answer 18 February 1997]: Estimated theoretical capacities for post-consumer materials recycling are as follows:

Tonnes
(a) 900,000
(b) >112,500
(c) 240,000
(d) 120,000
(e) >4,000,000
(f) >100,000
(g) >200,000
(h) >975,000
(i) >400,000

Utilisation of these capacities depends upon a number of technical, logistical and commercial factors. Capacity also exists for recovering energy from some of these materials.

Sources: recycling advisory unit and industry data.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the tonnage of(a) glass, (b) plastics, (c) steel cans, (d) aluminium cans, (e) paper and card, (f) batteries, (g) tyres, (h) vehicles and (i) electrical and electronic equipment, recycled in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available. [16200]

Mr. Page

[holding answer 18 February 1997]: Tonnages of post-consumer products recycled in 1995 were:

Tonnes
(a) 501,000
(b) 112,500
(c) 80,000
(d) 30,000
(e) 4,000,000
(f) 100,000

Tonnes
(g) 200,000
(h) 975,000
(i) 300,0001
1 Estimate, for "white goods".

Sources: recycling advisory unit and industry data.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the recycling rate for(a) glass, (b) plastics, (c) steel cans, (d) aluminium cans, (e) paper and card, (f) batteries, (g) tyres, (h) vehicles and (i) electrical and electronic equipment, in the United Kingdom at the latest available date. [16201]

Mr. Page

[holding answer 18 February 1997]: Recycling rates in 1995 for post-consumer waste products were:

Per cent.
(a) 26.5
(b) 5.5
(c) 16.0
(d) 28.0
(e) 35.0
(f) (car batteries) 90.0
(g) 51.0
(h) 75.0
(i) (white goods) 75.0

Sources: recycling advisory unit and industry data.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the(a) number of aluminium cans produced and consumed, (b) consumption of aluminium cans in tonnes, (c) number of aluminium can banks, (d) number of aluminium cans collected, (e) number of tonnes of aluminium cans collected and (f) aluminium can recycling rate in (i) 1995 and (ii) 1996 in the United Kingdom. [16203]

Mr. Page

[holding answer 18 February 1997]: The information is as follows:

1995 1996
(a) 7.0 billion produced 5.3 billion produced
6.8 billion consumed 5.1 billion consumed
(b) 109,000 tonnes 84,000 tonnes
(c) 4,8000 Data not yet available
(d) 1.9 billion Data not yet available
(e) 30,000 tonnes Data not yet available
(f) 28 per cent Data not yet available

Source: Aluminium Can Recycling Association.