Ciarán Cuffe
Question:456 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the quantity and cost of stationery used by her Department every year; and the proportion of that stationery which is recycled paper. [2511/03]
Written Answers. - Departmental Expenditure.
I am committed to the use of recycled paper as stationery where quality, suitability and cost considerations allow. While in 2002, the Department spent a total of €4,317,863 on stationery of which 7% consisted of products manufactured from recycled paper – chiefly envelopes – the possibility of increasing the proportion of recycled paper used by the Department is being examined.
In general, the Department strives to ensure that, as far as possible, best environmental practice is incorporated into all aspects of its operations. For example, confidential waste, paper containing sensitive material, is recycled and the Department is currently undertaking a pilot project with the aim of recycling non-confidential waste paper.