§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to set848W 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. [98224]
§ Mr. BattleMy 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 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, as published in "Greening Government: First Annual Report of the Green Ministers Committee 1998–99". We are currently undergoing an environmental audit which will set baselines against which individual recycling targets may be set. Our associate bodies will be setting their own targets to help us achieve the corporate target.