Vol. 573 No. 3
740 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the overall figure within her Department for the percentages, quantities and costs of recycled and non-recycled paper and paper products used by her Department in the last period for which figures are available; and the plans her Department has to increase its use of recycled paper and paper products, and cut down on the use of non-recycled paper and paper products. [25422/03]
My Department tries to ensure that, as far as possible, good environmental practice is integrated into all aspects of its operations, including the use of paper products. In this context, it is committed to using recycled paper where quality, suitability and cost considerations allow.
For example in 2002, my Department spent a total of €4,317,863 on stationery. The total spent on recycled paper, weekly envelopes, was €302,290.
Confidential waste, that is paper which holds sensitive material, continues to be recycled. My Department is currently in consultation with several companies with a view to establishing a comprehensive waste management system which will also cater for the recycling of non-confidential material.
