§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to encourage the use of reconstituted building materials. [9947]
§ Ms Hewitt[holding answer 23 October 2001]: I have been asked to reply.
The Government published their strategy for more sustainable construction, "Building a Better Quality of Life", in April 2000. Last week we published a review of progress 'Building a better quality of life—a strategy for more sustainable construction: Report on Progress 20001', which is available on the DTI website at www.dti.gov.uk/construction/sustain/sustainableconstruction.htm
One of the priorities identified in the strategy is the need to minimise the impact on the consumption of natural resources through the reduction in waste. The re-use and recycling of waste, often as building materials, is encouraged through a number of economic instruments such as the landfill tax, the forthcoming aggregates levy and the climate change levy. These measures promote the use of reconstituted building materials in construction by encouraging the minimisation of waste going to landfill and reducing the demand for primary aggregates.
My Department also commissions research—much of it in collaboration with the industry—into the re-use and recycling of waste materials in construction.