To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recycling schemes are in operation in each building operated by his Department. (176377)

The Department manages the following recycling initiatives as a co-ordinated scheme throughout all its headquarters buildings:

Redundant furniture and electronic equipment (that cannot be re-used) is sent for recycling by third parties;

Waste from food production and consumption (where it can be separated and is in sufficient volume) is sent for recycling;

Our Department’s print suppliers are required to use the Dft Recycled Printing Papers framework, all paper used for printing publications must be recycled and the paper from any publications sent for disposal is recycled for use by participants of the DfT Printing Papers framework;

External contractors provide the safe collection and recycling of a variety of materials e.g., paper, cardboard, plastic cups and cans, glass, toner cartridges, plastic bottles, batteries, light bulbs and tubes;

All waste is constantly monitored, to identify further potential areas for recycling;

Green waste from grounds maintenance is sent for recycling by our contractors; and

Waste at our Sheffield office that cannot be reclaimed or re-used is sent to be turned into steam for heating and bought back .for use in the Sheffield building.

We also manage the following re-use and reclaim schemes that count as part of our performance on recycling for departmental returns:

Surplus furniture and electronic equipment is reclaimed for reuse within the Department itself or sent for re-use by third parties;

Surplus mobile phones are collected and donated for sale by charities to re-use;

Electronic noticeboards are available to advertise surplus office materials and so minimise the need for ordering further Items and potentially increasing wastage;

As part of office moves, contacts are encouraged to use the electronic noticeboard when preparing to disperse surplus and redundant materials to other teams; and

Staff are encouraged to use suitable paper waste as scrap pads.

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 Department’s return for 2006/07 is due for publication by the Sustainable Development Commission soon.