MoreThanWaste.com - Government sets example for use of reprocessed materials in capital projects (14/11/2006)

Dr Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test) asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he was taking to "encourage the use of reused and recycled materials in capital procurement projects for which his Department is responsible".

In response Derek Twigg (Parliamentary Under-secretary of State, Ministry of Defence) indicated that in June, the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, announced new sustainable operations targets for the Government estate. These targets are are related to important areas such as carbon neutrality and emissions, energy efficiency, waste and water consumption.

In relation to waste management; targets require all central Government Departments' estates to:

Increase their recycling figures to 40 per cent. of their waste arisings by 2010.

Increase their recycling figures to 75 per cent. of their waste arisings by 2020.

Reduce their waste arisings by 5 per cent. by 2010, relative to 2004-05 levels.

Reduce their waste arisings by 25 per cent. by 2020, relative to 2004-05 levels.

Targets also require Departments' to achieve a high standard in accordance with the Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM).

In addition, the Waste and Resources Action programme (WRAP) work with some Departments to embed sustainable procurement practices in their construction and refurbishment projects.

The minister indicated that the Ministry of Defence now has in place procurement processes aimed at encouraging the maximum use of reused and recycled materials.


	Government sets example for use of reprocessed materials in capital projects (14/11/2006) Dr Whitehead (Labour - Southampton, Test) asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he was taking to "encourage the use of reused and recycled materials in capital procurement projects for which his Department is responsible". In response Derek Twigg (Parliamentary Under-secretary of State, Ministry of Defence) indicated that in June, the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, announced new sustainable operations targets for the Government estate. These targets are are related to important areas such as carbon neutrality and emissions, energy efficiency, waste and water consumption. In relation to waste management; targets require all central Government Departments' estates to: Increase their recycling figures to 40 per cent. of their waste arisings by 2010. Increase their recycling figures to 75 per cent. of their waste arisings by 2020. Reduce their waste arisings by 5 per cent. by 2010, relative to 2004-05 levels. Reduce their waste arisings by 25 per cent. by 2020, relative to 2004-05 levels. Targets also require Departments' to achieve a high standard in accordance with the Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM). In addition, the Waste and Resources Action programme (WRAP) work with some Departments to embed sustainable procurement practices in their construction and refurbishment projects. The minister indicated that the Ministry of Defence now has in place procurement processes aimed at encouraging the maximum use of reused and recycled materials. [ Reference: Hansard 8.11.06, Column 1558W, Ref. 98007 - Parliamentary © 2006]