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Waste Management
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on alternatives to landfill and incineration for waste disposal. [131614]
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Mr. Morley: Government's policy for waste is set out in Waste Strategy 2000 1 . This is underpinned by the waste hierarchy which sets out the order in which options for waste management should be considered, based on their presumed environmental impact. This prioritises waste minimisation in the first instance, followed by re-use, followed by recycling, composting and energy from waste. Disposal by incineration and landfill are at the bottom of the hierarchy. These should only be used when all of the other options have been considered.
The Strategy, together with Government's response to the Strategy Unit report, "Waste Not Want Not", which reviewed progress in its implementation, have led to the introduction of a wide range of measures to move waste management up the waste hierarchy. These include significant increases in the Landfill Tax, from 2005–06; the introduction of Best Value Performance Standards (or statutory targets) for recycling and composting for local authorities; and the creation of the Waste and Resources Action Programme, which was launched in November 2000 to create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products, and to remove the barriers to waste minimisation, re-use and recycling.
The Waste and Emissions Trading Bill, currently going through Parliament, proposes a system of tradable allowances, reducing year on year, for the amount of biodegradable municipal waste local authorities may landfill. This system would enable local authorities to meet their targets for reducing the amount of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill in the most cost effective way taking account of their local circumstances.
- 1 "Waste Strategy 2000: England and Wales"—Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions, May 2000
- http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/cm4693/index.htm
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what investigations she has undertaken on the installation of anaerobic digestion systems for waste disposal; and if she will make a statement. [131615]
Mr. Morley: None. However, Government will shortly be issuing a consultation paper on how anaerobic digestion can be treated as a contributor to both composting and energy recovery for the purpose of Government indicators. This follows representations to Government from the waste management industry and local authorities regarding anaerobic digestion, which is currently classified by Government as a form of energy recovery from waste. Changing the classification should make it a more attractive waste management option for local authorities.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many anaerobic digestion systems for waste disposal there are in the UK; how many have been (a) built and (b) closed in each of the past five years for which figures are available; how many are planned to be built in the (i) current financial year and (ii) following year; and if she will make a statement. [131616]
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Mr. Morley: These figures are not available. My Department is aware that anaerobic digestion is employed for a number of commercial and industrial waste streams and that some local authorities are considering pilot plants for the treatment of biodegradable municipal waste. Later this year we expect to launch a programme which will support authorities investing in new waste processing technologies and which will provide impartial advice and funding for demonstrations of new and innovative processes. Some aspects of anaerobic digestion may be eligible.
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what measures have been put in place to deal with changes in levels of household waste since 1996–97; [131073]
- (2) what target was set for household waste recycling in England and Wales in the Government's 2000 Waste Strategy. [131083]
Mr. Morley: The Government has put a number of measures in place to deal with the problems of the on average 3 per cent. per year increase in household waste. "Waste Strategy 2000: England and Wales" 1 was published in May 2000, and sets out the Government's strategy for managing waste and resources better and the changes needed to deliver more sustainable development.
The strategy included targets for increasing levels of recycling and composting of household waste to 17 per cent. by 2003–04 and 25 per cent. by 2005–06. Progress towards achieving these targets can be found in this year's Departmental Report 2 .
In November 2002 government published the Strategy Unit report "Waste Not, Want Not", which reviewed progress in implementing government obligations mainly on municipal waste and recommended a range of measures to drive up performance. The Government response 3 sets out a package of strategic measures that will help to boost the minimisation, re-use and recycling of municipal waste, and move waste management up the waste hierarchy.
- 1 "Waste Strategy 2000: England and Wales"—Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions, May 2000 http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/cm4693/index.htm
- 2 "Defra Department Report 2003"—Defra, May 2003—http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/default.htm
- 3 Government response to Strategy Unit report "Waste Not, Want Not"—Defra, May 2003 http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/review/index.htm
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on waste minimisation projects. [131060]
Mr. Morley: The Government have announced, in response to the SU report, that WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) would be taking forward the following four waste minimisation initiatives:
- a national home composting programme, following established best practice in other countries, using sustained training and communication methods to establish greater household participation. The programme, which is currently under
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- development, is likely to be delivered through local authorities in a bidding process, linked to the provision of other support services (on waste awareness and kerbside best practice);
development of re-useable nappy services, with a programme of support for SMEs and new entrants to business for start-up support for new nappy laundering businesses;
a retailers initiative, seeking to work with major retailers—both challenging them and supporting them to play their part in waste minimisation;
a waste minimisation innovation fund to provide resources to support innovation by retailers and others—in areas such as minimising material use in consumer products, design for minimum material use and maximum recyclability.
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the use of anaerobic digestion of waste. [131074]
Mr. Morley: Anaerobic digestion is currently classified by Government as a form of energy recovery from waste. Energy recovery is a less desirable option than recycling and composting in the Government's hierarchy of waste management options. However, following representations from the industry and local authorities, we have agreed that anaerobic digestion should be treated as a contributor to both composting and energy recovery. We will shortly be issuing a consultation paper on how this could be done.
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding local authorities received for sustainable waste managing schemes in the last year for which figures are available. [131075]
Mr. Morley: The information is as follows:
The main source of funding for local authority waste services is through the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) Standard Spending Assessment (SSA).
The EPCS SSA provides for a wide range of local authority services including libraries, local transport and flood defence, as well as waste. In total, the provision for the block is:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 8,961 |
| 2003–04 | 9,435 |
Provision for waste services is not separately identified within the total.
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Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund
We have provided £50 million additional funding for 2002–03 and £90 million for 2003–04 through a £140 million Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund to encourage local authorities to expand recycling operations in their area.
Information on the final totals for all financial claims made under round 1 (2002–03) of the National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund including the separate arrangement for London is as follows:
| Capital Spend Allocated 2002–03 (£ million) | 38.58 |
| Actual Capital Spend 2002–03 (£ million) | 30.74 |
| Proportion Spent (%) | 80 |
| Revenue Spend Allocated 2002–03 (£ million) | 11.42 |
| Actual Revenue Spend 2002–03 (£ million) | 10.47 |
| Proportion Spent (%) | 92 |
The underspend on the capital budget is due mainly to delays in the procurement of capital items such as vehicles and boxes. The Department is seeking end-year flexibility to carry forward the remaining capital budget (7.8 million) so it can be spent by Local Authorities in 2003–04.
The Waste Private Finance Initiative (PFI)
Waste PFI funding is allocated on a project specific basis. Since the introduction of the September 2000 criteria recycling has been at the forefront of all schemes approved by the department.
In the last 12 months six projects have been approved at outline stage and another three at final stage, which are now signed and operational. The following table shows the allocations for each scheme:
| Authority | Financial Year Project signed | Approval stage | PFI Credit allocation (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELWA | 2002–03 | Final | 47 |
| East Sussex, Brighton and Hove | 2002–03 | Final | 49 |
| Leicester City | 2003–04 | Final | 30.8 |
| Central Berkshire | N/A | Outline | 37 |
| West Sussex | N/A | Outline | 25 |
| Gloucestershire | N/A | Outline | 25.105 |
| West Berkshire | N/A | Outline | 23.74 |
| Cornwall | N/A | Outline | 25 |
| Nottinghamshire | N/A | Outline | 31.93 |
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government will put in place to achieve the 2005 target to reduce industrial and commercial waste sent to landfill to 85 per cent. less than in 1998. [131076]
Mr. Morley: Waste Strategy 2000: England and Wales 1 was published in May 2000, and sets out the government's strategy for managing waste and resources better and the changes needed to deliver more sustainable development.
The Strategy set a target to reduce the amount of industrial and commercial waste sent to landfill to 85 per cent. of the 1998 level by 2005.
In November 2002 government published the Strategy Unit report 'Waste Not, Want Not', which reviewed progress in implementing government obligations and
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recommended a range of measures to drive up performance including some related to industrial and commercial waste. The government response 2 identifies a package of strategic measures to take forward these recommendations, and move waste management up the waste hierarchy.
- 1 "Waste Strategy 2000: England and Wales"—Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions, May 2000 http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/cm4693/index.htm
- 2 Government response to Strategy Unit report "Waste not, Want not"—Defra, May 2003 http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/review/index.htm
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