To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the use of private finance initiative funding for waste disposal projects in circumstances where the local authority has opted not to use incineration as a waste disposal method. (281780)

DEFRA's policy is not prescriptive in relation to the disposal technology procured by an authority using private finance initiative (PFI) funding. DEFRA does however insist that a thorough appraisal of the options is performed and documented as part of the Outline Business Case (OBC). The technology selected for the OBC forms the basis of the OBC costings but does not determine the choice of technology which is ultimately selected in the procurement stage. Hence PFI credit support is not tied to any type of technology and is available to projects both with and without combustion as part of their waste management solution.

Any new infrastructure proposals should not be at the expense of reduction, reuse and recycling of waste.