Skip to main content

Departmental Recycling

Volume 472: debated on Thursday 6 March 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recycling scheme is in operation in each building used by his Department. (176553)

The following table details the recycling schemes which are available in DEFRA buildings in London, York and Alnwick.

Item

Disposed by

Paper—general

Recycled

Paper—confidential

Shredded

Cardboard

Recycled

Electrical goods

Pre-WEEE collected by maintenance provider

Post-WEEE handled as instructed by manufacturer

Fridges

In London recycled where possible. York and Alnwick recycled by maintenance provider. Degassed first in all instances

Batteries

Recycled where possible

M and E Plant

Local contractor sorts and recycled where possible

Light tubes

Recycled locally

Metal

In York all metal waste from the major project is separated out and recycled. In other locations collected and recycled where possible or disposed of via local scrap recycling company

Cans, bottles, plastics

Recycled

Toner cartridges—printers, mobile phones, CDs

Collected and recycled where possible

Computer hardware

Managed by IBM

Food waste, catering oils, wet waste

In London handled by catering contractors and catering oils part recycled and filtered for use in contractor’s vehicle. Wet waste scheme starting in January 2008

Waste water, rain water

Harvesting plant being installed in York and Alnwick re-build for rainwater

Furniture

In London handled in-house via Green Works. York recycled locally—offered to local charities, small businesses etc. In Alnwick surplus furniture will be recycled