Recycling Bill clears the Commons1 July 2003
On Friday 11th July the Household Waste Recycling Bill received its third reading in the House of Commons and passed through the report stage. The Bill now has Government support to take it through the House of Lords and it should become law by October.
Tony Juniper, Joan Ruddock and Elliott Morley, Environment Minister, celebrating the success of the Recycling Bill passing through the House of Commons
The Bill requires that by 2010, every household in England must have at least two types of recyclable waste collected from their home, separate from their usual rubbish. An amendment to the Bill, put forward by the Government and supported by Friends of the Earth, now means that the Welsh Assembly also has the power to require the same service in Wales.
We in the House today offer the [Welsh] Assembly primary legislation, which it can bring into force if it fits its requirements. Much more still needs to be done, and the Bill offers local authorities an incentive and an opportunity for people to lobby their elected representatives to ensure that more progress is made.
Joan Ruddock MP
Unfortunately there was no change on the inclusion of Northern Ireland. However, once the assembly is reinstated it will have the primary law making powers to be able to enact this legislation without the order from Westminster.
Congratulations were extended to Joan Ruddock MP and Friends of the Earth for successfully steering the Bill through the House of Commons. Campaigning by Friends of the Earth supporters led David Wilshire MP to remark that he had shown his support for the bill in the hope that his emails would go silent, so that he could have a quiet weekend!
The Bill received its first reading at the House of Lords on the 14th July and it is expected to have a smooth run, now that it has Government backing. The final report stage in the House of Lords is due in the Autumn, when the Bill should become law.
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© Balthazar Serreau
