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16 Sept 2004 : Column 1673W—continued
Recycling
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what amounts of (a) waste cooking fats and (b) batteries were disposed of in each of the last three years; how much of each was recycled; what plans she has to increase those figures; and if she will make a statement. [187549]
Mr. Morley: There are no precise figures for the amount of waste cooking fats disposed of or recycled. However, it is estimated that between 70,000 to 90,000 tonnes of used cooking oil is collected each year for use in animal feed. The remainder goes to incineration at energy plants.
Between 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes of used cooking oil going to animal feed comes from catering premises. However, from 1 November 2004, this use will be prohibited under the terms of the Animal By-Products Regulation (Regulation EC No. 1774/2002). It is thought that other markets, including the growing bio-diesel industry, will absorb this stream of used cooking oil. In the short-term, these alternative markets are likely to be elsewhere in the EU. A Cabinet Office sponsored working group, including industry representatives from the various potential markets for used cooking oil, is considering current and potential UK capacity for domestic use of used cooking oil.
No precise data for the recycling of end of life automotive batteries are currently collected. However, discussions with the battery manufacturing and distributing sector, and the lead recycling industry, suggest that in 2002 and 2003, the UK recycled over 90 per cent. of spent automotive batteries. In each year, an estimated 7.5 million automotive batteries entered
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the waste stream. In 2002, the UK sold 25,100 tonnes of consumer batteries but only 125 tonnes were collected separately and sent for recycling.
The proposed forthcoming batteries Directive will ensure that recycling levels for all types of portable battery increase. Collection and recycling targets will have to be met four years from transposition date and the UK will have 18 months to transpose the Directive after it is agreed. There has been a significant increase in the number of local authorities introducing battery collection schemes and G&P Batteries will be opening a recycling plant for portable primary batteries in 2005.
Refrigerators
Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the principal factors behind failures to recover all potential ozone depleting substances from refrigeration units. [187022]
Mr. Morley: A significant but highly variable proportion of the original ozone depleting substance (ODS) within a refrigerant unit will have been lost during the working life of the appliance. The failure of the coolant system and consequent loss of ODS is one of the reasons why refrigeration units may be discarded by householders.
The licence conditions for storage and treatment facilities of refrigeration units include measures that will minimise the loss of ODS, but further losses may occur during the extraction of the coolant (known as phase 1 degassing), as even the best equipment and procedures will not remove 100 per cent. of the coolant. Other sources of loss may include inappropriate transportation/handling or accidents/vandalism at storage facilities.
Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how much CFC12 has been recovered from (a) refrigeration circuits and (b) refrigeration unit foams since European Council Regulation No. 2037/2000 came into force; [187023]
(2) how much CFC11 has been recovered from refrigeration unit foams since European Council Regulation No. 2037/2000 came into force. [187024]
Mr. Morley: The information on CFCs is not held in the form requested, as the data on the recovery of ozone depleting substances (ODS) does not distinguish between the type of ODS, or the equipment from which it was recovered.
The following information is provided.
The total amount of ODS including CFCs recovered from all equipment was:
387 tonnes in 2002 and;
494 tonnes in 2003.
In addition, a significant number of refrigerators leave the UK for treatment—
418,000 in 2002 and 377,000 in 2003—and it will fall to the receiving EU state to recover the associated ODS, and report upon it.
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Sustainable Development Impacts
Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken by her Department to review arrangements for public reporting of sustainable development impacts. [188256]
Mr. Morley: The arrangements for public reporting of our progress towards sustainable development for the UK are being reviewed as part of the UK Government's consultation 'Taking it on: developing UK sustainable development strategy together'. This consultation closed on 31 July 2004. Defra, in partnership with other Government Departments, is currently considering the responses received, and we aim to launch the resulting new strategy, including a monitoring and reporting structure, next year.
The Government also reports annually on the management of its own land and buildings in the 'Sustainable Development in Government' Report; this provides an overview of departmental progress against targets in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. The Government has committed to review the framework during 2004–05.
Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements her Department has in place to report publicly on key sustainable development impacts. [188257]
Mr. Morley: The UK Government, with Defra as overall lead department, reports annually on its progress towards sustainable development for the UK in the 'Achieving a better quality of life' series of reports. The most recent annual report, covering our actions and progress in 2003 and including updates for the 15 headline indicators of sustainable development, was published on 16 March 2004. A wider set of 147 indicators of sustainable development 'Quality of life counts' were published at the same time. In addition the headline indicators are updated on the Government's sustainable development website, as and when new data become available. These reporting arrangements are being reviewed as part of the consultation 'Taking it on: developing UK sustainable development strategy together'.
The Government also reports annually regarding the management of its own land and buildings in the 'Sustainable Development in Government' Report; this provides an overview of departmental progress against targets in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. The last report was published in November 2003.
Warship Dismantling (Hartlepool)
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on (a) the four ghost ships moored in Hartlepool and (b) proposals for a further nine former US navy ships to be dismantled in Hartlepool. [188433]
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Mr. Morley: The four US ships are currently docked in Able UK's Graythorp dock on Teesside. The necessary permissions are being sought by Able UK for dismantling to take place at this location. The process of granting the permissions is not a forgone conclusion. Relevant applications will be considered and the outcome will depend upon the relevant regulators.
In the meantime, dismantling work is prevented and the dock facility is subject to regular inspection by the Environment Agency in liaison with the Health and Safety Executive. The results of environ mental monitoring indicate that storage of the four US naval ships at the Graythorp dock has not had a detrimental impact or posed a significant threat to the environment or human health.
There are no plans for any further US naval vessels to be towed to the UK at present. The nine ships that are currently in the US are not permitted to be moved to the UK and the US authorities have given a written undertaking that no more ships will be sent unless and until the necessary permissions are in place at the Teesside facility.
Waste Management
Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library copies of all documents relating to discussions in Cabinet Committee meetings on the granting of powers to local authorities to charge householders for the collection, processing and disposal of unsorted household waste that has reached the public domain. [188069]
Mr. Morley: It has been established practice under successive Governments not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees. This practice is now formalised by Exemption 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has held with companies offering technologies for differential and variable charging for waste collection and disposal; and if she will make a statement. [188071]
Mr. Morley: The Department has not held any discussions with companies offering technologies for differential and variable charging for waste collection and disposal.
I have accepted an invitation from PM Group plc to visit their manufacturing facility at Bradford to see a demonstration of their waste weighing systems but, owing to other commitments, the visit has not yet taken place.
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