What spooks waste or recycle
The security service MI5 is producing twice as much waste as it was five years ago.
As a security body, MI5 has an absolute exemption from the Freedom of Information Act. But it can't be excluded from the Environmental Information Regulations, which implement a European convention on access to environmental information held by public authorities.
This means that MI5 has to be prepared to release some environmental data, such as its recycling rate, where it would not adversely affect national security or come under other EIR exceptions.
MI5 has told me, in response to an EIR request, that in 2009 it recycled 56% of the 1,546 tonnes of waste that it created. This is a major improvement on its recycling rate of 33% in 2006. But it only takes the service back to where it was more or less in 2004, when it had a rate of 55% - although this was on about half as much waste at 570 tonnes.
So although the security service is recycling at the same rate as five years previously, it is producing twice as much waste. However, a recyling rate of 56% is respectable compared to the performance of most government departments. Presumably the top secret memos get shredded before they go in the recycling bin.
The data released also shows that MI5 has faced a remarkable increase in its electricity prices. In 2009 it consumed 32.4 million kWh, at a cost of £3.6 million, an average cost of 11 pence per kWh. But back in 2004 it was consuming 23.6 million kWh at a quarter of the 2009 annual cost, just £890,000 - representing just 3.8 pence per kWh.
If they've all been spending their time watching Spooks, they should surely be told to turn those televisions off - it's expensive!
Most of the data MI5 has sent me has also been posted on its website, except that the website omits the 2009 recycling rate of 56% and waste figure of 1,546 tonnes.
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