Written question asked by Jeremy Corbyn (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 28 October 1996. It was answered by James Clappison (Conservative) on Monday, 28 October 1996 on behalf of the Department of the Environment.

Dept of the Environment

Question: What estimate he has made of the proportion of discarded (a) glass, (b) paper, (c) plastic, and (d) biodegradables which have been (i) recycled and (ii) composted in each of the past five years, the current year, and each of the next five. - Includes table.

Answer: Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the proportion of discarded (a) glass, (b) paper, (c) plastic, and (d) biodegradables which have been (i) recycled and (ii) composted in each of the past five years, the current year, and each of the next five. [156] Mr. Clappison: It is not possible to provide information in the form requested. Information on plastic recycling and composting of biodegradables is not held centrally. The Department does obtain information from trade associations on the amounts of glass and paper recycled as a proportion of glass and paper consumption in the UK. Figures for the years 1989-1994 are given below. Glass and paper recycling as a proportion of the consumption of these materials in the UK _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year Glass recycling Paper recycling (per cent.) per cent.) 1989 17 28 1990 21 32 1991 21 34 1992 26 34 1993 29 32 1994 28 33 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. The Department has not made projections of these figures.

Secondary information