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26 July 2007 : Column 1531W—continued


Recycling: Standards

Mr. Anthony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to increase recycling rates. [151953]

Joan Ruddock: Recycling is strongly promoted by a range of Government policies. Measures to increase
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the levels of recycling and composting are outlined in the Waste Strategy for England 2007, published by my Department on the 24 May. Copies of the strategy can be found in the Library of the House and on the DEFRA website at:

Recycling: Toner Cartridges

Mr. Anthony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to implement measures which will increase the recycling of printer cartridges. [151954]

Joan Ruddock: DEFRA does not have any current plans to introduce measures to specifically increase printer cartridge recycling. A number of businesses and charitable organisations already collect printer cartridges for reuse and recycling. This option is often cheaper than purchasing a new unit.

Recycling: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of waste collected in city of York was recycled in each year since 2003-04; what financial assistance was provided by the Government to York for recycling in that period; and what steps the Government have taken to encourage local authorities to increase recycling rates. [151559]

Joan Ruddock: Recycling and composting of household waste has doubled in the past four years and more than tripled in the past eight years. Government support for, and engagement with, the poorest performing local authorities, challenging national and local targets and the escalating landfill tax are all helping authorities drive forward even higher recycling rates.

The Audit Commission’s Best Value Performance Indicators show household waste recycled or composted by York city council was 15.43 per cent. in 2003-04; 17.77 per cent. in 2004-05; and 24.08 per cent. in 2005-06.

The main source of funding for local authorities’ waste management services is the environmental, protective and cultural services (EPCS) block of Government grant, distributed each year. It is for the local authorities to decide what proportion of the block to invest in waste management services, including recycling. Specific funding awarded from 2003-04 onwards to York city council, available for it to use on improving its recycling services, is detailed in the following table.


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26 July 2007 : Column 1534W
Funding type Funding amount (£) Funding description Start date End date

Local Authority Support Unit Direct Consultancy Service

36,015

Partnership Development

1 April 2004

31 March 2005

National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund (Round 3)

350,000

Household Waste Recycling Centre Development

1 April 2004

31 March 2006

Grant to relieve spending pressures on waste

50,735

Share of £20 million to all local authorities in England in recognition of the need to spend on waste management

1 April 2004

31 March 2005

Waste and Performance Efficiency Grant (WPEG)

145,790

Capital: 82,006.62

1 April 2005

31 March 2006

Revenue: 63,782.92

Local Authority Support Unit Direct Consultancy Support

72,182

York and North Yorkshire Waste Management Partnership (YNYWMP) and Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy (JMWMS)—revision and development

1 April 2005

31 March 2006

Household Incentives

23,400

Four incentive pilots for a six month period starting October 2005. All authorities run the first two pilots but can elect to undertake a third and fourth.

1 April 2005

31 March 2006

Local Authority Support Unit Direct Consultancy Support

99,832

Waste Composition Study

1 April 2006

31 March 2008

Waste and Performance Efficiency Grant (WPEG)

387,705

Capital: 193,852

1 April 2006

31 March 2007

Revenue: 193,852

Waste and Performance Efficiency Grant (WPEG)

406,075

Capital: 203,037

1 April 2007

31 March 2008

Revenue: 203,037


York city council also received free guidance and support during this time, including from the Waste and Resources Action Programme’s ROTATE programme. ROTATE is a free advisory service which supports local authorities’ kerbside collection and local communications and awareness programmes.

Recycling: Yorkshire and Humberside

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of waste was recycled in each local authority in Yorkshire and the Humber in each year since 2004-05. [151560]

Joan Ruddock: The Audit Commission’s Best Value Performance Indicators for household recycling and composting rates for 2004-05 and 2005-06 achieved by each local authority in the Yorkshire and Humber region are shown in the following table.

Percentage
2004-05 2005-06

East Riding of Yorkshire

18.77

24.76

Kingston upon Hull

13.28

18.05

North East Lincolnshire

21.18

23.68

North Lincolnshire

24.09

25.77

York City

17.77

24.08

Selby

14.71

26.73

Scarborough

14.87

18.67

Ryedale

25.40

42.77

Richmondshire

11.99

22.67

Harrogate

15.63

21.92

Hambleton

34.52

39.87

Craven

21.41

27.04

North Yorkshire County

21.98

30.19

Sheffield

17.14

21.17

Rotherham

21.00

22.43

Doncaster

18.24

19.55

Barnsley

17.68

19.9

Leeds

19.56

21.33

Kirklees

16.23

21.06

Wakefield City

21.27

21.99

Bradford City

16.73

18.55

Calderdale

17.05

20.35


Refrigerators: Energy

Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the energy efficiency of mini-fridges; and what assessment he has made of the merits of placing restrictions on their sale in the UK. [151742]


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Joan Ruddock: The Government Market Transformation Programme (MTP) works with manufacturers and other stakeholders to seek to bring forward more sustainable products and has worked with the domestic refrigeration industry in both the UK and abroad to significantly improve the energy efficiency of these appliances over the past 10 to 15 years.

While no specific assessment has been made of “mini-fridges” we are aware that an increasing number of these appliances are being purchased. However, as a member of the European Single Market the UK, nor any other member state, cannot place restrictions on the sale of appliances on the basis of their energy efficiency alone. Such actions need to be taken by member states acting together.

The Eco-Design for Energy Using Products (EUP) framework directive provides a forum for considering options and priorities for establishing energy efficiency standards for energy using products. Domestic refrigeration products have been identified as priority for action and the Commission expects to bring forward proposals in this area early next year.

Severn Barrage: Flood Control

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the potential environmental impact of the proposed Severn Barrage project, with particular reference to flood protection upstream. [151917]

Mr. Woolas: A Severn Barrage scheme could make a major contribution towards the supply of renewable electricity, potentially delivering up to 5 per cent. of the UK’s electricity needs.

However, construction of a barrage would have a major impact on the unique hyper-tidal nature of the estuary. Some areas of saltmarsh as well as intertidal mudflats and sandflats at the banks of the Severn would be lost. Wildlife, including waders and wildfowl, and migratory fish stocks such as salmon and sea trout would be affected.

The construction of a barrage would also have an impact on local flood management plans. The precise implications of a barrage scheme would depend on its location, the detail of its operating regimes and, in particular, the extent to which tidal water was permitted to enter the Severn.

A major study on tidal power in the UK, led by the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC), is currently under way. Part of the study is looking at the consequences of building a barrage across the Severn estuary and the social, environmental and economic impacts involved, including the implications for flood management. We will carefully consider the results of this work, which should be available at the end of September, before any decisions are taken.

Water Demand: Showers

Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will estimate the impact on per capita demand for water within households of the use of power showers. [151829]


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Mr. Woolas: The Government’s Market Transformation Programme (MTP) will shortly be setting out, for public consultation, the Government’s current evidence and analysis on showers. This consultation is part of a wider annual review and policy development process, supporting delivery of the Government’s objectives for energy, water and for sustainable consumption and production.

The paper includes indicative targets and eco-design standards for showers which are sold and used in the UK. The MTP work indicates that if no new policy actions are taken, and current underlying trends continue, water consumption by showers is expected to rise by 48 per cent. by 2020 compared to the 2006 baseline. The policy actions proposed in the document show how this projected increase can be constrained.


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