HC Deb 17 June 2003 vol 407 cc196-9W
Martin Linton

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much waste was collected for recycling by each London borough in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; and what percentage increase is required to meet the Government's target of 24 per cent. by 2005–06. [109542]

Mr. Morley

Data on the amount of household waste collected for recycling by each London Borough in 2001–02 are currently being updated by the GLA and can be obtained from the GLA managed waste website at: http://www.capitalwastefacts.com

Data for 2002–03 are not yet available.

Greater London had a household recycling rate of 9 per cent. in 2000–01. It is too soon to predict whether the London authorities will meet their 2005–06 targets, which are set out in the Guidance on Municipal Waste Management Strategies, which is available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/management/guidance/mwms/index.htm

Joan Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 28 February 2003,Official Report, column 7530, on waste management, if she will publish figures for the performance of local authorities against targets for waste recycling in 2001–02. [112297]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 12 Way 2003]: Figures for the performance of local authorities in 2001–02 against their statutory targets for waste recycling are collected as part of the Best Value regime and are available on the ODPM website; www.bvpi.gov.uk. The data are too extensive to be published in Hansard.

Mr. Wiggin

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate she has made of the additional expenditure needed to meet(a) the recycling targets and (b) the recovery targets of Waste Strategy 2000; [113081]

(2) what estimate she has made of the additional expenditure needed to comply with the requirements of Article 5 of the Landfill Directive to (a) reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill to 75 per cent. of 1995 levels by 2010, (b) reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste to 50 per cent. of 1995 levels by 2013 and (c) reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste to 35 per cent. of 1995 levels by 2020. [113082]

Mr. Morley

The costs involved in meeting the Article 5 Landfill Directive targets and other waste strategy targets were set out in the Regulatory Impact Assessment published with Waste Strategy 2000.

A base case was established and various policy mixes were costed against that base case. The additional costs of the policy mixes that should deliver the levels of recycling, composting and recovery needed to meet the waste strategy targets fell in the range £3.4 billion—£7.7 billion (net present value) over the 20 year period 2000–20.

Waste Strategy 2000 stated that the proposed targets for the recovery and recycling of municipal waste may not impose net additional costs if it is assumed that a broad mix of waste management options will be required to meet the Landfill Directive targets; and that reliance on incineration and composting is unlikely to be viable.

The Government already provide waste disposal authorities (WDAs) with significant resources in relation to their waste management which will enable them to carry out their waste related duties. For example, in the last two Spending Reviews the provision for Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services, including waste, have been increased by £1.8 billion for the period up 2005–06. Expenditure in the three financial years 2005–06 to 2007–08 will be dealt with in Spending Review 2004.

Subsequent spending reviews will seek to deal with any additional burdens in future years. This is a sensible approach; when considering the costs of meeting the Landfill Directive targets, important considerations have to be taken into account; for example, the extent of the changes in comparative costs between landfill and alternative, more sustainable, disposal options.

Joan Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of homes have a separate collection for recycling at least every two weeks of(a) glass, (b) paper, (c) metal food and drinks cans and foil, (d) plastics and (e) biodegradable waste; and what the average percentage is of these materials recycled by the homes that (i) have these collections, and (ii) those that do not. [117817]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 9 June 2003]: The figures relate to 2001–02 which is the most recent year for which we have full statistics:

The percentage of households that receive a kerbside collection of the following recycleable materials are:

  1. (a) glass—15 per cent.
  2. (b) paper—44 per cent.
  3. (c) metal cans and foil—20 per cent.
  4. (d) plastic—8 per cent.
  5. (e) compost—14 per cent.
  6. co-mingled 12 per cent.

Co-mingled collections typically contain 2–5 materials and may or may not include those materials asked about above.

The data to answer the second part of the question is not collected.

Joan Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of homes in the UK have a collection of recyclable waste that is separated from their residual waste(a) at least once a week, (b) once every two weeks, (c) once every three weeks and (d) once every four weeks or less frequently; and what percentage of household waste is recycled from homes in each of the above categories. [117819]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 9 June 2003]: The figures relate to 2001–02 which is the most recent year for which we have full statistics:

  1. (a) weekly—17 per cent.
  2. (b) once every two weeks—39 per cent.
  3. (c) once every three weeks—0 per cent.
  4. (d) once every four weeks or less frequently—3 per cent.

The recycling rates in each category are:

  1. (a) 12.5 per cent.
  2. (b) 10.7 per cent.
  3. (c)—
  4. (d)6.7 per cent.

The recycling rates data excludes recycling from collections at Civic Amenity sites.

Joan Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the percentage of household waste recycled in each local authority in England in the year 2001–02, broken down by region. [117820]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 9 June 2003]: Figures for the performance of local authorities in 2001–02 against their statutory targets for waste recycling are collected as part of the Best Value regime and are available on the ODPM website: www.bvpi.gov.uk.

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