§ Paddy TippingTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how long it takes for disposable nappies to decompose in landfill sites; and what percentage of the waste going to landfill this represents; [161667]
(2) what steps she will take to reduce the environmental impact of the disposal of disposable nappies; [161668]
(3) what restrictions are placed on waste disposal authorities in relation to the disposal in landfill sites of raw sewage from (a) disposable nappies and (b) other sources; [161669]
(4) what estimate she has made of the total number of disposable nappies that entered the household waste stream in 2003; and what percentage of household waste this constituted. [161670]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 22 March 2004]: Disposable nappies consist of fluffed pulp, the largest component, and plastic. They also contain absorbent gel. The rate of breakdown will depend on the conditions of landfill and the other types of waste deposited. Generally landfill sites in the UK have a high moisture and organic content and therefore waste, including the paper and gel parts of nappies, will degrade relatively quickly.
Plastics are generally resistant to degradation and, depending on the type, some will take years to breakdown, others may last indefinitely.
The Strategy Unit in its report 'Waste Not Want Not' estimated that in 2000–01 nappies comprised around 2 per cent. of household waste, equivalent to 350,000 tonnes.
Nappies from the home are classed as household waste and can be disposed of in the normal household waste. Properly regulated landfill is a proven method of dealing with waste safely and can be relied on if alternative methods of dealing with waste are not provided. Our view is that good waste management practice adequately regulated can and does cope with disposable nappies.
Following the publication of the Strategy Unit report 'Waste Not Want Not' the Government accepted the recommendation that the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) should take forward (as part of an overall waste minimisation initiative) work on supporting re-usable nappies through the provision of support for new businesses and information to parents. The details of the programme are still being worked up.
The aim of the WRAP programme is to achieve an average diversion of 225kg/yr per participating household. WRAP'S target is to convert 155,000 1198W households to re-usable nappies by end of fiscal year 2006. This is an ambitious target and if achieved would create a reduction in household waste of 35,000 tonnes (per annum).