Question

To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2018 to Question 125385, what the reason is for Parliament's general waste not being separated; and whether the Commission plans to take steps to ensure that such waste is separated in order to ensure compliance with the demands of the waste hierarchy.

The term “general waste” refers to non-recyclable items. Instructions for our general waste bins in Parliament are that only non-recyclables and contaminated waste should be deposited in this waste stream. Therefore, there is no value in segregating the elements of this stream. General waste is separated from all other waste that Parliament produces and, as general waste, it remains segregated as such through to its final disposal at an Energy from Waste facility. This is the fourth layer of the waste hierarchy, and the highest level of the waste hierarchy at which such non-recyclables can be disposed of.

All recyclable items have already been removed at this stage as they will have been disposed of in the dry mixed recycling bins or glass bins located in offices and waste hubs.

We focus our efforts on encouraging individuals in offices to segregate their dry mixed recycling from general waste, so there should be no reason to further segregate the general waste. As previously stated, the general waste is sent to an Energy from Waste facility whereas the recycling will go to a Materials Recovery Facility.

Parliament’s Environment Team and waste contractor carry out audits to identify any pattern of recyclable items being incorrectly disposed of to the general waste stream.