§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will specify in contracts between his Department and construction companies the use of a minimum percentage of recycled materials; and if he will make a statement. [84898]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Department follows the advice of the "Green guide for managers on the government estate", published in March 1999 to promote more sustainable construction. This guidance refers to the importance of using recycled materials and ensuring future recyclability in obtaining best value. The Environment Agency has adopted a target for the engineering works it procures that 20 per cent. of the aggregates used should be from secondary sources, while the Highways Agency is encouraging the adoption of material specifications which make recycling technically practical.
The Department is helping the Government Construction Clients' Panel to develop a methodology for assessing how well Departments and Agencies procure and manage their built assets against indicators of sustainability, which are expected to include criteria relating to the re-use and recycling of materials. In addition, the Department is working with representatives of the whole construction industry to develop a strategy for more sustainable construction. This strategy, which will set out how the industry intends to contribute to sustainable development, is due to be published later this year.
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