To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his Department's policy is on recycling. (174408)

The Department's environmental management systems ensure that our waste is managed in a responsible and legally compliant manner. We:

Reduce the need to recycle and make recycling easier;

Identify materials which may be reusable or recyclable;

Feed back re-usable waste into the Department's own management systems;

Re-use, recycle segregate and legally store and dispose of waste;

Keep reviewing this policy to ensure if aligns with Government intent and adopt any new initiatives, where appropriate;

Encourage the generation of new ideas by staff to improve our waste handling;

Learn from our peers in the public sector and benchmark our progress; and

Work with our recycling suppliers to develop more sustainable methods and reward innovation.

In the Department's Sustainable Development in Government return for 2005/06 we were pleased to report 43 per cent. of our waste recycled and the 2010 target already met. The Departments return for 2006/07 is due for publication by the Sustainable Development Commission soon.