To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by (a) his Department and (b) the Environment Agency on waste management (i) for recycling and (ii) for landfill in the last 12 months; and what percentage of the overall budget this represents in each case. (240891)

For the year 2007-08 we estimate that the internal cost of waste management for DEFRA, which includes its offices, depots, laboratories, sites etc, was in the region of £126,280 for that sent to recycling and £160,720 for that sent to landfill.

This equates to 44 per cent. of total expenditure for recycling and 56 per cent. of total expenditure for landfill.

For the year 2007-08 the Environment Agency estimates that the cost of waste management from its offices and depots was £43,580 for that sent for recycling and £60,130 for that sent to landfill.