Written question asked by Caroline Spelman (Conservative) on Monday, 26 January 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 4 February 2004. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Wednesday, 4 February 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 percentage of municipal waste going to landfill was biodegradable waste in the last year for which figures are available; and what estimate she has made of the likely change in the next five years. - Inc figures. (Holding answer 29 January 2004).

Answer: Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of municipal waste going to landfill was biodegradable waste in the last year for which figures are available; and what estimate she has made of the likely change in the next five years. [151640] Mr. Morley :[holding answer 29 January 2004]: In 2001-02, 28.8 million tonnes of municipal waste were collected, of which 22.3 million tonnes (77 per cent.) were disposed of to landfill. 70 per cent. of the waste land filled was estimated to be biodegradable using various assumptions. Surveys of biodegradable content of municipal waste are not made routinely, but the Environment Agency plan to carry out a survey to determine the biodegradable proportion of municipal waste arising.

Secondary information