§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how much municipal waste has been collected in each year since 1996; and if she will make a statement; [8084]
(2) what assessment the Government have made of the increase of annual municipal waste in the United Kingdom in the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [8093]
§ Mr. MeacherData are available for England and Wales for the last four years. The total amount of municipal waste collected is as follows:
Year Thousand tonnes 1996–97 25,979 1997–98 27,166 1998–99 27,912 1999–2000 29,332 The increase in municipal waste over this period is nearly 13 per cent. 2000–01 data are currently being collected from local authorities.
167W
§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of UK household waste was disposed of through landfill in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement. [8094]
§ Mr. MeacherThe latest available data for England and Wales show that 81 per cent. of municipal waste was disposed of through landfill in 1999–2000. Household waste is approximately 90 per cent. of municipal waste.
Under the EU Landfill Directive, the UK must divert substantial quantities of waste away from landfill over the coming years. We have put in place a national strategy, 'Waste Strategy 2000', for managing our waste and resources more effectively and will be introducing a system of tradable landfill permits to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste that goes to landfill. The Government have also set tough statutory performance standards for recycling and composting of household waste, requiring local authorities to double the amount recycled or composted within three years and nearly treble it within five years. The setting of these statutory targets is expected to lead to an increase in the availability of kerbside recycling.