HC Deb 28 February 2001 vol 363 cc675-7W
Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what procedures he has established for auditing the quantities of recyclable material eligible for packaging recovery notes and packaging export recovery notes; and if he will make a statement. [150975]

Mr. Robert Ainsworth

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: Only packaging waste handled by accredited reprocessors and exporters is eligible for packaging recovery or packaging export recovery notes. In England and Wales the accreditation is overseen by the Environment Agency, to whom those who are accredited are required to send information regularly on the quantities handled. Accredited reprocessors are subject to an annual inspection at the time of making their application for accreditation. Accredited reprocessors must submit quarterly returns to the Environment Agency and the Agency also makes periodic inspections, some of which are unannounced, to premises to check this information.

Mr. Chaytor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of packaging export recovery notes on the use of recyclate by British manufacturing industry; and if he will make a statement. [150974]

Mr. Robert Ainsworth

[holding answer 26 February 2001]: No assessment of this kind has been done to date. However, in the first three quarters of 2000, 93 per cent. of packaging recycled has been recycled in the UK; with the remainder being exported for recycling. Since the packaging regulations came into force, the UK has increased its packaging recovery rate from some 30 per cent. in 1997 to just under 40 per cent. at the end of 1999.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how much his Department spent in the last year on raising public consciousness concerning the value of recycling; [151320]

(2) what steps he is taking to improve public awareness of the cost of waste disposal and the importance of recycling. [151316]

Mr. Robert Ainsworth

Prime activity to raise public awareness of waste reuse and recycling is taken forward under my Department's "are you doing your bit?" publicity campaign, which aims to persuade people to take action to protect the environment. This campaign, which is receiving funding of £9 million in this financial year covers transport, climate change, waste and water conservation. Approximately 15 per cent. of campaign expenditure is devoted to waste issues. Examples of "are you doing your bit?" waste campaign activity are at www.useitagain.org.uk and www.doingyourbit.org.uk, which I commend to the House.

In addition, my Department is providing core funding of £3.7 million to the environmental charity ENCAMS (incorporating Tidy Britain Group and Going for Green), who primarily focus their waste promotional activity around a waste theme month in October. Environmental Action Fund grants totalling approximately £415,000 are also being paid to 13 charities in this financial year to support various waste/recycling projects.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to improve the level of recycling in the United Kingdom. [151353]

Mr. Robert Ainsworth

Waste Strategy 2000 set out targets for doubling the recycling or composting of household waste in three years and nearly tripling it in five years. These targets will be underpinned by statutory performance standards for each local authority under the Best Value regime. It also set a target of reducing the amount of industrial and commercial waste sent to landfill by 2005, to 85 per cent. of that landfilled in 1998.

We announced in the Spending Review 2000 major extra funding for local authorities and for the new Waste and Resources Action Programme which will operate across all waste streams to foster markets for recycled materials.

Most recently, my right hon Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport consulted on proposals for the next round of lottery finding (the New Opportunities Fund), including a programme to expand community sector waste reuse, recycling and composting.

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what incentives his Department plans to introduce to assist in the production of community recycling programmes. [151317]

Mr. Robert Ainsworth

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced in his speech of 24 October a further £50 million from the New Opportunities Fund to support community recycling initiatives for up to 700,000 households.

We will shortly issue guidance to English local authorities on Municipal Waste Management Strategies, which will make it clear that we expect such strategies to include the authorities' plans for partnerships with local community groups.