asked Her Majesty's Government:

What measures they will consider to reduce the annual amount of waste disposal per family in the United Kingdom below 0.5 tonnes per annum. [HL1314]

There are a number of measures already in place designed to encourage recycling and minimise waste, which are being driven by regional and local strategies and supported by nationally funded programmes. As well as encouraging more sustainable resource use, minimising waste and increasing recycling rates helps to divert waste from landfill and therefore contributes to our efforts to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

The latest figures show that in 2005-06 households in England produced around 505 kilograms of waste per person. This is down from 520 kilograms in 2002-03. Of this waste, an estimated 26.7 per cent was recycled or composted. This exceeded our target of 25 per cent and was a rise of 4 per cent on the previous year.

The revised waste strategy, which is due to be published in the spring, will put forward the Government's proposals on the future of waste management in England.