§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what discussions she has had with local authorities on the exclusion of incineration from local waste plans; and if she will make a statement; [5470]
(2) if she will change her policy to allow county councils to specifically exclude incineration in their waste plans. [5469]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 20 July 2001]: The Government have had no such discussions with local authorities. Although Government policy seeks to encourage waste minimisation and to maximise the scope for recycling wherever possible, in those cases where options further up the waste hierarchy do not provide the Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO), some incineration capacity may be needed in order to achieve the landfill diversion targets under the Landfill Directive.