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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the Department's redundant documentation, waste paper and card is recycled; and if she will make a statement on the Department's paper recycling policy. [188439] Mr. Morley: It is not possible to give a figure for the proportion of redundant documentation in waste paper and card that is recycled. We do not collect data on the total amount of this material within Defra. Paper recycling facilities are in place at virtually all Defra buildings, but some accept newspapers and other types of paper waste. We continue to increase the proportion of our total waste that is recycled or recovered each year and paper waste forms a large percentage of this. In 2003-04 Defra's total waste arising was 4,689 metric tons, of which 55 per cent. was recycled or recovered. Recycled paper constituted 16 per cent. of the Department's total waste and 61 per cent. of its recycled waste by weight. The Department is developing a sustainable waste management strategy aimed at reducing the total amount of waste produced and increasing the proportion that is recycled. Paper recycling will be an important part of this strategy.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

425 c91W; 188439

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Government departments Publications Recycling Paper Waste

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk