Written question asked by Simon Hughes (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 2 December 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 December 2004. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Monday, 13 December 2004 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, what estimate she has made of (a) the total amount of household waste going to landfill in each of the last three years and (b) the proportions within this total accounted for by (i) fit for purpose food and (ii) packaging. - Inc table. (Holding answer 7 December 2004).

Answer: Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of (a) the total amount of household waste going to landfill in each of the last three years and (b) the proportions within this total accounted for by (i) fit for purpose food and (ii) packaging. [202959] Mr. Morley: [holding answer 7 December 2004]: The amounts of municipal waste going to landfill in England in each of the three years for which data is available are shown in the table: Municipal waste going to landfill _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Million tonnes 2000-01 22.0 2001-02 22.3 2002-03 22.0 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. There are no estimates available on the amounts of fit for purpose food and packaging within these totals. Around 90 per cent. of municipal waste comes from households. It is estimated that just over four million tonnes of household waste produced in England is kitchen waste, or approximately 17 per cent. of total arisings. The Government are currently consulting on a waste data strategy, designed to improve the quality of waste data in the interests of all potential users.

Secondary information