§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste(a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [98223]
§ Ms Beverley HughesMy Department's approach to waste management is based on the three "R"s: with "Recovery" (i.e. recycling, composting and energy recovery) following "Reduce" and "Re-use" as the preferred options for reducing waste sent to landfill. This should help us to achieve: the Green Ministers' target for Government Departments of recovering a minimum of 40 per cent. of total office waste, with at least 25 per cent. of that recovery coming from recycling or composting, in 2000–01; and our own corporate target which is to increase the amount recovered and recycled by 10 per cent. each year to achieve 70 per cent. recovery or recycling in 2003–04. The Department has not set individual targets for paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastic and other materials although work is underway on setting a target for paper.