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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with companies that use large quantities of food wrapping paper on (a) mechanisms to persuade customers not to cause litter and (b) using biodegradable materials to reduce litter.

Asked by

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

7 April 2005

Reference

432 c1667-8W;432 c1663W; 224980

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme.

Asked by

Ben Chapman (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

24 January 2005

Reference

209741; 430 c12W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of commercial and industrial waste was biodegradable in the last period for which figures are available.

Asked by

Sue Doughty (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

17 January 2005

Reference

206790; 429 c730W;429 c733-4W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answered by

Elliot Morley (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Oral answers to questions

Date

13 January 2005

Reference

429 c421-2

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste being sent to landfill sites.

Asked by

Simon Hughes (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Oral questions - Lead

Status

Answered

Date

13 January 2005

Reference

429 c421-2; 207849

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answered by

Elliot Morley (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Oral answers to questions

Date

13 January 2005

Reference

429 c421-2

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on the difference in the figures for the maximum amount of biodegradable municipal waste permitted to be sent to landfill in (a) 2010, (b) 2013 and (c) 2020 between the Final Regulatory...

Asked by

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

16 July 2004

Reference

423 c1343-4W; 182985;182986

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) recycling and (b) incineration of (i) oxo-biodegradable plastic and (ii) conventional plastic; what assessment she has made of the effect of oxo-biodegradable plastic in combating litter; what research she has...

Asked by

Anthony D Wright (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

26 May 2004

For answer on

18 June 2004

Answered on

18 June 2004

Mr. Anthony D. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the (a) recycling and (b) incineration of (i) oxo-biodegradable plastic and (ii) conventional plastic; [176907] (2) what assessment she has made of the effect of oxo- biodegradable plastic in combating litter; [176908] (3) what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on oxo-biodegradable plastics, with particular reference to the contribution they may make to a better environment; [176910] (4) what assessment she has made of the effect on the environment of making short-life plastic products degradable. [176911] Mr. Morley: The National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC) recently published a review of current knowledge on the environmental profiles of biodegradable polymers (BDPs). The main focus of the review is on BDPs made from renewable feedstocks such as starch, polylactic acid and cellulose and their environmental performance compared to conventional plastics. The summary report, "Biodegradable Polymers and Sustainability: Insights from Life Cycle Assessment", can be viewed on the NNFCC website at: www.nnfcc.co.uk The Environment Agency will follow up this work with two Life Cycle Analysis research projects. The first will consider disposable plastic carrier bags from supermarkets and alternative product systems (e.g. paper and bioplastics) and the other will look at food packaging product systems. Oil-based biodegradable (oxo-biodegradable) plastics are included in the scope of the alternative materials. The results of the research will be reported March 2005.

Date

18 June 2004

Reference

422 c1125W; 176907;176908;176910;176911

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research has been conducted by or for her Department on bioremediation using genetically modified organisms. - Inc ref to final report at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/research/epg-1-5-142.htm, and www.defra.gov.uk/research/Project_Data/projects.asp?M=KWS&V= bioremediation&SCOPE=O.

Asked by

Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

20 May 2004

Reference

173118; 421 c1102-3W

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how long it takes for disposable nappies to decompose in landfill sites; and what percentage of the waste going to landfill this represents; what steps she will take to reduce the environmental impact of the disposal of disposable...

Asked by

Paddy Tipping (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

11 March 2004

For answer on

29 March 2004

Answered on

29 March 2004

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how long it takes for disposable nappies to decompose in landfill sites; and what percentage of the waste going to landfill this represents; [161667] (2) what steps she will take to reduce the environmental impact of the disposal of disposable nappies; [161668] (3) what restrictions are placed on waste disposal authorities in relation to the disposal in landfill sites of raw sewage from (a) disposable nappies and (b) other sources; [161669] (4) what estimate she has made of the total number of disposable nappies that entered the household waste stream in 2003; and what percentage of household waste this constituted. [161670] Mr. Morley: [holding answer 22 March 2004]: Disposable nappies consist of fluffed pulp, the largest component, and plastic. They also contain absorbent gel. The rate of breakdown will depend on the conditions of landfill and the other types of waste deposited. Generally landfill sites in the UK have a high moisture and organic content and therefore waste, including the paper and gel parts of nappies, will degrade relatively quickly. Plastics are generally resistant to degradation and, depending on the type, some will take years to breakdown, others may last indefinitely. The Strategy Unit in its report `Waste Not Want Not' estimated that in 2000-01 nappies comprised around 2 per cent. of household waste, equivalent to 350,000 tonnes. Nappies from the home are classed as household waste and can be disposed of in the normal household waste. Properly regulated landfill is a proven method of dealing with waste safely and can be relied on if alternative methods of dealing with waste are not provided. Our view is that good waste management practice adequately regulated can and does cope with disposable nappies. Following the publication of the Strategy Unit report `Waste Not Want Not' the Government accepted the recommendation that the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) should take forward (as part of an overall waste minimisation initiative) work on supporting re-usable nappies through the provision of support for new businesses and information to parents. The details of the programme are still being worked up. The aim of the WRAP programme is to achieve an average diversion of 225kg/yr per participating household. WRAP'S target is to convert 155,000 households to re-usable nappies by end of fiscal year 2006. This is an ambitious target and if achieved would create a reduction in household waste of 35,000 tonnes (per annum).

Date

29 March 2004

Reference

419 c1195-6W;419 c1197-8W; 161667;161668;161669;161670

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to encourage the use of bio-degradable plastic bags.

Asked by

Peter Ainsworth (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

23 February 2004

Reference

418 c124-5W; 153745

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

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....

Asked by

Caroline Spelman (Conservative)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

4 February 2004

Reference

417 c895W; 151640

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the total volume of packaging used by the fast food industry in each of the last 10 years when serving their customers, broken down by (a) cardboard and paper, (b) plastics, (c)...

Asked by

Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

20 November 2003

Reference

413 c1226W;413 c1222-3W; 139199;139200

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to require fast food outlets to use only biodegradable packaging.

Asked by

Bob Blizzard (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

10 November 2003

Reference

134847; 413 c2W

House

House of Commons

Rep and 3R:Waste and Emissions Trading Bill (HL) 2002/03

Waste and Emissions Trading Bill (HL). Report stage. New clauses considered. Third reading debate. Bill passed with amendments. (Amendment to Division list at c218 given in Corrigenda to Daily Part at 413 c1040).

Lead member

Elliot Morley

Answering member

Bill Wiggin

Department

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Debates on bills

Date

28 October 2003

Reference

412 c179-274, (corrigendum) 413 c1040;412 c179-274

House

House of Commons

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which materials will be included in the review of a ban on the landfilling of recyclable products due to be carried out in 2006. - Includes ref to Strategy Units report 'Waste Not Want Not'.

Asked by

Sue Doughty (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

8 July 2003

For answer on

1 September 2003

Answered on

1 September 2003

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which materials will be included in the review of a ban on the landfilling of recyclable products due to be carried out in 2006. [125125] Mr. Morley: There is currently no ban on landfilling of recyclable materials and no review of a ban is due to be carried out in 2006. However, the Strategy Unit's Report, "Waste Not, Want Not", recommended that Defra and DTI should review the case for a ban on the landfilling of recyclable products in 2006-07, and at the same time, consider the case for a similar ban on incinerating recyclable products. In their response to the Report, the Government said they would like to see increased utilisation of valuable resources which are currently wasted but many materials will only be recycled if there is demand for them. Developing sustainable markets for recyclable materials is, therefore, an important prerequisite to a ban--the Government do not want to create a new problem by requiring the long-term storage of recyclable materials for which markets have not been developed. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) was created to help develop these markets and the Government will continue to support WRAP'S role in market development. It would be preferable to avoid bans until other, more flexible, options have been exhausted. However, the Government will review progress in market development and recycling rates in 2006-07, and reconsider the case for banning disposal of recyclable products or materials then. The Strategy Unit has specifically mentioned a ban on biodegradable material if the other instruments designed to meet Article 5 of the Landfill Directive are failing to make progress. The system of tradable landfill allowances being set up under the Waste and Emissions Trading Bill will progressively reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste being disposed of to landfill.

Date

1 September 2003

Reference

125125; 409 c852-3W

House

House of Commons

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