HC Deb 04 March 2002 vol 381 c72W
Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much UK waste was disposed of, in million of tonnes in each year from 1998 to 2001 by(a) landfill, (b) recycling, (c) energy recovery, (d) other recovery and (e) other disposal. [38277]

Mr. Meacher

It is estimated that in 1997–98 around 190 million tonnes of controlled waste were produced in the UK, by households, commerce and industry, including construction and demolition. Of this, it is estimated that around 58 per cent. or 111 million tonnes were disposed of to landfill, 30 per cent. or 57 million tonnes to recycling, 2 per cent. or 3 million tonnes to energy recovery, 7 per cent. or 14 million tonnes to other recovery and 2 per cent. or 5 million tonnes to other disposal. Data for later years are not available. This is a headline indicator of sustainable development for the UK, the indicator is shown in "Environment in your pocket", published by the Department in December 2001.