Written question asked by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour) on Tuesday, 26 October 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 4 November 2004. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 4 November 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 the number of households in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley which (i) composted and (ii) recycled in the last period for which figures are available. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of households in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley which (i) composted and (ii) recycled in the last period for which figures are available. [194623] Mr. Morley: Local authorities do not currently report on the number of households participating in recycling and composting schemes, or the numbers that carry out home composting. The 2002-03 Municipal Waste Management Survey established that 14.5 per cent. of household waste in England was recycled, about one third of which was centrally composted. Chorley borough council recycled and composted 16 per cent. of household waste, and Lancashire county council 20 per cent. The Government's Best Value Performance Indicators for local authorities show that in 2002-03 86 per cent. of the population of Chorley were served by a kerbside collection scheme, or lived within 1 km of a recycling centre. The regional average for Lancashire was 80.3 per cent.

Secondary information