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1123046

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Plastics: Waste
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce the use of plastic; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Gedling
	tabling member printed	Vernon Coaker
	uin	247586
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government published the Resources and Waste Strategy last year, setting out our plans to reduce, reuse and recycle more plastic than we do now. Our target is to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste throughout the life of the 25 Year Environment Plan, but for the most problematic plastics we are going faster.</p><p> </p><p>The 5p charge on plastic bags has reduced their use significantly and we have now consulted on increasing this charge and extending it to all retailers. We have also imposed a ban on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products and have consulted on banning plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently consulting on extending producer responsibility for packaging, so that producers will be responsible for the full costs of managing packaging waste. We are also exploring the introduction of a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and increasing consistency in the recycling system. We will develop legislative proposals taking account of the consultation responses.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 30/04/2019 10:49:05 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	360 label Biography information for Lord Coaker

1064482

	registered interest
	date	20/02/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Plastics: Waste
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the export of plastic waste to developing countries; and if the Government will make an assessment of the potential merits of a complete ban on plastic waste exports to developing countries.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	224034
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government wants to export less waste and make sure the waste we do have to export is handled properly. As set out in the Resources and Waste Strategy, the government is putting in place measures to improve the quality of the materials we collect for recycling as well as creating domestic markets for these materials. The government recently published four consultations which will support these ambitions: consistency in materials collected for recycling, reform of the packaging waste producer responsibility system, a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and a tax to encourage the use of recycled material in plastic packaging. In addition, we will seek to tighten controls on exports of all waste, and are exploring a range of measures including increasing monitoring of international waste shipments, improved provision for waste repatriation, and charging higher fees to improve compliance with waste shipment controls.</p><p> </p><p>While waste is a commodity, and there is a global market for secondary materials, it must be and is subject to strict controls. Under EU legislation non-OECD countries elect the controls to be applied in respect of waste exports to their countries from the EU, choosing either to prohibit specific wastes, require prior written approval, apply their own national procedures or no control measures. The authorities in countries that receive waste from the EU need to be clear about the types of waste they will accept and the waste import procedures they require exporters in the EU to adhere to.</p><p> </p><p>The EU Waste Shipment Regulations impose strict conditions on the types of waste that can be exported, and set out procedures that waste exporters must follow. They prohibit the export from the EU of waste for disposal to a country outside the European Free Trade Area (EFTA). Regulation 21 of the UK Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations makes it an offence to transport waste destined for disposal to countries outside the EFTA.</p><p> </p><p>The UK has a robust approach to enforcing these controls. In 2017 the Environment Agency (EA) inspected more than 1,000 shipping containers and returned 367 of these to their site of loading. The EA stopped over 7,000 tonnes of waste at ports and prevented nearly 9,000 tonnes of waste from reaching ports.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 28/02/2019 10:15:34 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

855933

	registered interest
	date	06/03/2018
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Plastics: Waste
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect the recent Chinese ban on mixed plastic waste from the UK will have on the financial cost and size of domestic landfill.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	131099
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2018 answer text <p>The Environment Agency’s most recent assessment shows that the UK’s infrastructure will allow for additional disposal of waste, if necessary, to landfill to prevent other more serious risks to human health and the environment, though we are working to respect the waste hierarchy.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 14/03/2018 19:29:41 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

983082

	registered interest
	date	08/10/2018
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Plastics: Waste
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timeframe is for the publication of the consultation document on a ban on the sale of plastic (a) straws, (b) stirrers and (c) stemmed cotton buds.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	175905
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/10/2018 answer text <p>This Government is a world leader in tackling plastic waste. The Prime Minister launched the Department’s 25 Year Environment Plan on 11 January and pledged to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste. At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in April, the Prime Minister announced that subject to a consultation to be launched by Defra later this year, there will be a ban on the sale/supply of plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds in England. Work is underway with a consultation due to be launched soon. Policy proposals will be subject to an impact assessment.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is aware of the interest in biodegradable plastics. We will seek further evidence in our consultation to check whether assumptions on recyclability and degradation are correct. We also welcome views on whether it is likely that technical innovations in compostable or biodegradable plastics might improve their environmental or economic value.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 175906 175907 question first answered 11/10/2018 16:06:39 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

983083

	registered interest
	date	08/10/2018
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Plastics: Waste
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether PLA biodegradable straws will be included in the proposed consultation on a ban on single use plastic products.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	175906
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/10/2018 answer text <p>This Government is a world leader in tackling plastic waste. The Prime Minister launched the Department’s 25 Year Environment Plan on 11 January and pledged to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste. At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in April, the Prime Minister announced that subject to a consultation to be launched by Defra later this year, there will be a ban on the sale/supply of plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds in England. Work is underway with a consultation due to be launched soon. Policy proposals will be subject to an impact assessment.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is aware of the interest in biodegradable plastics. We will seek further evidence in our consultation to check whether assumptions on recyclability and degradation are correct. We also welcome views on whether it is likely that technical innovations in compostable or biodegradable plastics might improve their environmental or economic value.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 175905 175907 question first answered 11/10/2018 16:06:39 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

983084

	registered interest
	date	08/10/2018
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Plastics: Waste
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of a ban on the sale of (a) plastic straws, (b) plastic stirrers and (c) plastic-stemmed cotton buds on wholesalers that stock those items.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	175907
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/10/2018 answer text <p>This Government is a world leader in tackling plastic waste. The Prime Minister launched the Department’s 25 Year Environment Plan on 11 January and pledged to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste. At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in April, the Prime Minister announced that subject to a consultation to be launched by Defra later this year, there will be a ban on the sale/supply of plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds in England. Work is underway with a consultation due to be launched soon. Policy proposals will be subject to an impact assessment.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is aware of the interest in biodegradable plastics. We will seek further evidence in our consultation to check whether assumptions on recyclability and degradation are correct. We also welcome views on whether it is likely that technical innovations in compostable or biodegradable plastics might improve their environmental or economic value.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 175905 175906 question first answered 11/10/2018 16:06:39 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1135791

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Plastics: Waste
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) support and (b) incentivise small food and catering businesses to reduce plastic waste.
	tabling member constituency	Stevenage
	tabling member printed	Stephen McPartland
	uin	271472
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government’s Resources and Waste Strategy, published last December, sets out our approach to eliminating avoidable plastic waste. As part of this, we propose to introduce requirements for businesses in England, which would include small food and catering businesses, to present a core set of materials for recycling. We will ensure that smaller businesses are not disadvantaged by these new requirements and, through our consultation on this proposal which closed in May, have sought views on how to help these businesses reduce the costs of waste collection.</p><p> </p><p>The Government also consulted on reforming packaging waste regulations to financially incentivise packaging producers to reduce the use of unnecessary and difficult to recycle packaging, and to produce packaging that can be recycled. These reforms, along with our proposals on consistency of recycling collections, should ensure that more of the plastic used by small food and catering businesses can be and will be recycled.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 10/07/2019 13:37:25 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4093 label Biography information for Stephen McPartland

1133754

	registered interest
	date	20/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Plastics: Waste
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much of the UK's plastic waste has been shipped to other countries since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Aberdeen South
	tabling member printed	Ross Thomson
	uin	267361
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/06/2019 answer text <p>Since 2010 the amount of plastic waste exported to other countries for reprocessing has fallen from 850,000 tonnes a year in 2010 to 600,000 tonnes in 2018. In total over this period around 7 million tonnes have been shipped. This is based on HM Revenue and Customs trade data.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is recycling more than ever, achieving a 46% plastic packaging recycling rate in 2017 and exceeding the EU target of 22.5%.The Government is clear we must export less waste and that any waste we do need to export is properly handled.</p><p> </p><p>The recently published Resources and Waste Strategy is focused on increasing the supply and demand for secondary materials to be recycled in the UK, thereby reducing exports of plastic waste. Any waste that will be managed abroad must be subject to strict controls and the government is committed to strengthening these controls.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 28/06/2019 13:24:05 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4599 label Biography information for Ross Thomson

1091004

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Plastics: Waste
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of the gasification of plastic waste.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	233460
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2019 answer text <p>Defra has not carried out such an assessment but liaises with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on its work to determine all the potential benefits from gasification and pyrolysis of waste, including plastics.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to improving the recovery of value from residual waste and encourages the development of innovative, emerging technologies to help divert waste from landfill providing they do not compete with greater recycling, reuse and prevention. We recognise the potential that these technologies can have in the decarbonisation of several sectors such as heat and transport.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 21/03/2019 10:14:20 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1091325

	registered interest
	date	19/03/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Plastics: Waste
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of being party to a legally binding international treaty on plastics with clear targets and standards.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	234113
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2019 answer text <p>The Government has taken on board existing relevant international agreements and commitments, which include the Basel Agreement, the Oceans Plastic Charter, and G7 and G20 Action Plans on Marine Litter.</p><p> </p><p>Our focus is on immediate action to tackle the pressing problem of plastic pollution and plastic waste. Our recently published Resources and Waste Strategy includes an ambitious set of policies to support elimination of avoidable plastic waste. This includes a commitment to meet the ambition of the EU’s Single-use Plastics Directive.</p><p> </p><p>We have also committed to work with other countries to magnify the impact of our domestic action. Accordingly we have signed up to the Ellen MacArthur New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, and we are spearheading efforts to support developing countries address plastic waste including through the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance and the Global Plastics Action Partnership.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 22/03/2019 10:06:45 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly