asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken to study the recovery and regeneration of waste materials; and if any research has been carried out on non-biodegradable substances as agreed in the Helsinki Final Act.
Her Majesty's Government regard the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) as the main channel for the multilateral implementation of the economic sections of the Helsinki Final Act. In full accord with the provisions of that document work is now being carried out in the ECE on the recovery and re-use of waste materials, and a project for the review of research on non-biodegradable substances is being considered.In addition, studies on the recovery and re-use of waste materials are being undertaken by the Waste Management Advisory Group and by the newly-appointed EEC Waste Management Advisory Committee.