Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 7 March 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 March 2001. It was answered by Bob Ainsworth (Labour) on Monday, 12 March 2001 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what recent assessment he has made of the accuracy of the formula applied to calculate recycling rates of local authorities. - Includes refs to "Best Value and Audit Commission Performance Indicators for 2001-02" and also "Guidance on Municipal Waste Management Strategies", copy in Library.

Answer: Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent assessment he has made of the accuracy of the formula applied to calculate recycling rates of local authorities. [153432] Mr. Robert Ainsworth: Information on the amount of waste collected and recycled by local authorities is obtained on an annual basis through the Department's annual Municipal Waste Management Survey. It is this information that is used to calculate household waste recycling rates at the national and local level. The proposed methodology for calculating the percentage of household waste recycled by local authorities in England was published in the consultation document "Best Value and Audit Commission Performance Indicators for 2001-02" in October 2000. The responses to the consultation exercise were taken into account in producing the final methodology published in Annexe A of the "Guidance on Municipal Waste Management Strategies" on 5 March 2001. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 153432; 364 c468W
Session: 2000-01
Subjects: Local government Recycling Standards Waste management Waste disposal
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk