§ Mr. Simon ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much of Great Britain's waste has been recycled in each of the last five years. [156348]
Mr. Robert AinsworthTotal annual data for GB are not available for each of the five years requested. The latest available data are for 1998 and show an estimate of between 170–210 m. tonnes of waste produced by households, commerce and industry, including construction and demolition in the UK, of which 26 per cent. were recycled. Information on the amount of municipal waste collected and recycled in England and Wales is obtained on an annual basis through the Department's annual Municipal Waste Management Survey. Municipal waste makes up about a sixth of total waste produced. The municipal waste recycling rates for 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1993–99 were 7.1, 7.2, 8.0 and 9.7 per cent. respectively. 1999–2000 data are expected to be available in the summer. Waste recycling in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.