Written question asked by Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 10 December 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 15 December 2009. It was answered by Dan Norris (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 December 2009 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Recycling

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of Christmas trees which were recycled in each of the last three years; and whether his Department provides assistance to local authorities for the recycling of Christmas trees.

Answer: No such estimate has been made by DEFRA. The Government believe local authorities are better placed to make decisions on the best waste management strategy for their local area, so it does not direct or interfere in the decisions they make. This includes the facilities local authorities make available for recycling Christmas trees. It does, however, encourage local authorities to consult extensively with residents, to ensure their opinions and preferences are taken into consideration.

Secondary information