To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of a substantial increase in the use of energy from waste on progress towards UK targets on (a) renewable energy and (b) waste management. (96292)

Where waste cannot be recycled or composted, recovering energy from waste (EfW) is preferable to sending it to landfill. In 2004-05, energy was recovered from 9 per cent. of municipal waste in England, which is expected to increase to 25 per cent. by 2020. Increases in recycling and composting, as well as EfW will help the UK achieve its obligations under the EU Landfill Directive in diverting biodegradable municipal waste from landfill.

In addition, energy recovered from biodegradable waste can displace fossil fuel use in conventional power generation and is classed as renewable.

Electricity generated from waste combustion contributed about 6 per cent. of renewable electricity generation in the UK in 2005. While EfW is expected to increase, its contribution to future renewable energy generation will depend on waste composition, the pace at which new facilities are built and the types of technology used.