asked the Minister for the Environment the plans he has for the proper integration of waste management and the recycling of waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

29.

asked the Minister for the Environment the plans he has for the provision of district heating schemes utilising recycled waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 29 together.

Policy in the waste management area, both at national and EC level, is to prevent the disposal of waste in a manner which would endanger human health or harm the environment and to reduce the quantities of wastes through recycling and other measures.

My Department have on a number of occasions encouraged local authorities to provide facilities for the recovery of certain wastes and will continue to do so as appropriate. Grants have been made to voluntary bodies over the past two years in support of recycling activities and a special provision of £250,000 has been provided in the budget this year to promote recycling.

My Department's concern with waste recycling arises primarily in the context of environmental protection and the operation of waste collection and disposal services. Consideration of any initiative involving recycling for energy purposes, such as district heating schemes, would primarily be a matter for the Department of Energy.