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Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the environmental implications of introducing variable charges for the collection of domestic household waste. [187278]
Mr. Morley: "Waste not, Want notA strategy for tackling the waste problem in England" (Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, 27 November 2002) recommended that local authorities which wish to take forward variable charging or household incentive schemes to help reduce waste volumes and increase recycling should be allowed to do so.
In line with their response to the Strategy Unit report, the Government has undertaken further work, in consultation with local authorities, on the practicalities of operating schemes and how potential disadvantages could be overcome. This work also analysed international experience of such schemes, including their impact on reducing waste and increasing recycling.
In light of this work, the Government is reviewing their position.
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with retailers about the final waste disposal of radio barcodes contained within consumer goods. [187621]
Mr. Morley: I have not discussed the final waste disposal of radio barcodes contained within consumer goods with retailers.
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made towards meeting recycling targets of 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005. [187011]
Mr. Morley: All local authorities in England have been set challenging Statutory Performance Standards for 200304 and 200506 for the recycling and composting of household waste. Individual local authority targets combine to meet national targets as set out in Waste Strategy 2000 to recycle or compost 17 per cent. of household waste by 200304, and 25 per cent. by 200506.
In 200203, the household recycling and composting rate for England was 14.5 per cent., a 2 per cent. increase over 200102. This percentage rise represents a significant improvement compared with previous annual increases, which had tended to be around 1 per cent. (as measured by the Municipal Waste Management Survey).
The most recent evidence, offered by local authorities' unaudited Best Value Performance Indicator data for 200304, suggests that the 200304 national target of 17 per cent. will be met. The national target for 200506 remains a significant challenge but an achievable goal if the current rate of progress is maintained.
13 Sept 2004 : Column 1415W
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage the recycling of plastic; and if she will list those local authorities which operate (a) kerbside and (b) other plastic recycling schemes. [187830]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 8 September 2004]: All local authorities in England have been set challenging Statutory Performance Standards for 200304 and 200506 for the recycling and composting of household waste. The Government do not specify which materials local authorities are required to collect. The Statutory Performance Standards are weight based so initially local authorities are likely to recycle heavier materials. However, as recycling targets become increasingly demanding, local authorities are expected to target lighter materials such as plastics.
To make the recycling of plastic more economically attractive the Government-funded Waste Resources and Action Programme (WRAP) has developed a programme to expand markets for plastic recyclate. As a result of WRAP activity since 2001 in excess of 35,000 additional tonnes of plastic recycling capacity per year is either operational, under construction or otherwise committed.
According to the Municipal Waste Management Survey 200203 the following local authorities operated (a) a kerbside collection scheme, or (b) other plastic recycling schemes.
Local authorities operating a kerbside plastic collection scheme in 200203
Adur District Council
Alnwick District Council
Arun District Council
Aylesbury Vale District Council
Babergh District Council
Barking and Dagenham LB
Bath and North East Somerset Council
Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council
Bexley LB
Blaby District Council
Blyth Valley Borough Council
Bolton MBC
Bradford City MDC MBC
Braintree District Council
Breckland BC
Bristol City Council
Bromley LB
Broxtowe Borough Council
Castle Morpeth Borough Council
Charnwood Borough Council
Chelmsford Borough Council
Chester City Council
Chichester District Council
Colchester Borough Council
Dacorum BC
Dartford Borough Council
Daventry DC
East Hampshire District Council
East Lindsey District Council
East Northamptonshire Council
Eastleigh Borough Council
Elmbridge Borough Council
Exeter City Council
Fenland District Council
Gloucester City Council
Gosport Borough Council
Gravesham Borough Council
Hart District Council
Havant Borough Council
Hillingdon LB
Horsham District Council
Kerrier District Council
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council
Kingston-upon-Thames LB
Lancaster City Council
Leeds City Council MBC
Leicester City Council
Lewes District Council
Lichfield District Council
Lincoln City Council
London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Manchester City Council
Melton Borough Council
Mid Bedfordshire District Council
Mid Devon District Council
Mid Sussex District Council
Milton Keynes Council
New Forest District Council
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
North Devon District Council
North Dorset District Council
North East Lincolnshire Council
North Kesteven District Council
North West Leicestershire District Council
Oadby and Wigston Borough Council
Oldham MBC
Pendle Borough Council
Plymouth City Council
Poole BC
Purbeck District Council
Reading BC
Redbridge LB
Rochdale MBC
Rossendale Borough Council
Sevenoaks District Council
South Hams District Council
South Holland District Council
South Kesteven DC
South Norfolk Council
South Northamptonshire District Council
South Oxfordshire District Council
Southend-on-Sea BC
St. Albans City and District Council
Stafford BC
Stroud District Council
Swale Borough Council
Teesdale District Council
Teignbridge DC
Thanet District Council
Three Rivers District Council
Torbay Council
Torridge District Council
Wellingborough BC
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council
Worthing Borough Council
Wychavon District Council
Local authorities operating a non-kerbside plastic recycling scheme
Adur District Council
Alnwick District Council
Arun District Council
Aylesbury Vale District Council
Babergh District Council
Barking and Dagenham LB
Bath and North East Somerset Council
Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council
Bexley LB
Blaby District Council
Blyth Valley Borough Council
Bolton MBC
Bradford City MDC MBC
Braintree District Council
Breckland BC
Bristol City Council
Bromley LB
Broxtowe Borough Council
Castle Morpeth Borough Council
Charnwood Borough Council
Chelmsford Borough Council
Chester City Council
Chichester District Council
Colchester Borough Council
Dacorum BC
Dartford Borough Council
Daventry DC
East Hampshire District Council
East Lindsey District Council
East Northamptonshire Council
Eastleigh Borough Council
Elmbridge Borough Council
Exeter City Council
Fenland District Council
Gloucester City Council
Gosport Borough Council
Gravesham Borough Council
Hart District Council
Havant Borough Council
Hillingdon LB
Horsham District Council
Kerrier District Council
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council
Kingston-upon-Thames LB
Lancaster City Council
Leeds City Council MBC
Leicester City Council
Lewes District Council
Lichfield District Council
Lincoln City Council
London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Manchester City Council
Melton Borough Council
Mid Bedfordshire District Council
Mid Devon District Council
Mid Sussex District Council
Milton Keynes Council
New Forest District Council
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
North Devon District Council
North Dorset District Council
North East Lincolnshire Council
North Kesteven District Council
North West Leicestershire District Council
Oadby and Wigston Borough Council
Oldham MBC
Pendle Borough Council
Plymouth City Council
Poole BC
Purbeck District Council
Reading BC
Redbridge LB
Rochdale MBC
Rossendale Borough Council
Sevenoaks District Council
South Hams District Council
South Holland District Council
South Kesteven DC
South Norfolk Council
South Northamptonshire District Council
South Oxfordshire District Council
Southend-on-Sea BC
St. Albans City and District Council
Stafford BC
Stroud District Council
Swale Borough Council
Teesdale District Council
Teignbridge DC
Thanet District Council
Three Rivers District Council
Torbay Council
Torridge District Council
Wellingborough BC
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council
Worthing Borough Council
Wychavon District Council
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