Written question asked by Jonathan Sayeed (Conservative) on Wednesday, 17 October 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 26 October 2001. It was answered by Michael Meacher (Labour) on Friday, 26 October 2001 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on proposed EU plans to prohibit the recycling of milk bottles.

Answer: Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on proposed EU plans to prohibit the recycling of milk bottles. [9073] Mr. Meacher: We are not aware of any such proposals. The EC Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste 94/62/EC, as well as requiring certain recovery and recycling targets to be met, also encourages reuse of packaging. This includes drinks containers such as milk bottles. The UK Regulations implementing the Directive also encourage reuse by allowing obligated businesses to exclude from the calculation of their tonnage recovery and recycling obligation, tonnages of packaging that are being reused. Milk bottles are reused for between 10 and 40 trips, so this provision will apply to the proportion of milk bottles that are being reused. We expect a proposal from the European Commission next month for revised targets in 2006. A further review may also address, among other things, ways of further encouraging reuse of packaging. We are not aware that the proposed revisions will in any way threaten the UK doorstep milk delivery service.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 9073; 373 c413-4W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Bottles Dairy products EU law Recycling Packaging Milk Waste management
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk