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1135812

	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: Recycling
	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) increase the amount of plastic that is recycled, and (b) improve the UK’s recycling infrastructure.
	tabling member constituency	St Albans
	tabling member printed	Mrs Anne Main
	uin	271396
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government’s Resources and Waste Strategy for England, published in December last year, sets out how we will reduce plastic pollution and preserve material resources by minimising waste, increasing recycling rates, promoting resource efficiency and moving towards a more circular economy. We have consulted on reforms to household and business recycling collections which are intended to improve the quantity and quality of materials collected for recycling, including plastic, and on proposals to make producers pay the full net cost for dealing with the packaging they put on the market at end-of-life, and on the potential introduction of a deposit return scheme. Her Majesty’s Treasury have also consulted on a world-leading tax on plastic packaging which does not contain at least 30% recycled material. These reforms should help reduce waste and increase the amount of packaging recycled.</p><p> </p><p>Defra also supports the UK Plastics Pact, a unique collaboration launched by Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) that will create a circular economy for plastics. WRAP estimates these members are responsible for over 80% of the plastic packaging on products sold through UK supermarkets, and approximately 50% of the total plastic packaging placed on the UK market.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also acting to help ensure the right infrastructure is in place to deliver high quality secondary materials for recycling. It is investing around £3 billion of grant funding in waste infrastructure projects. These grants support infrastructure including material recovery, mechanical biological treatment and anaerobic digestion facilities, as well as implementation and expanding kerbside recycling services. It also recently announced £4.7 million of grant funding for recycling infrastructure projects that will help to recycle difficult plastic packaging and textile materials. Further grant opportunities around recycling will follow in due course.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 10/07/2019 12:50:45 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1568 label Biography information for Mrs Anne Main

1135842

	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: Recycling
	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 recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the current plastic recycling system.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	271373
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2019 answer text <p>In England plastic is widely collected for recycling across local authorities. 45% of plastic packaging waste was recycled in 2017, exceeding the EU target of 22.5%.</p><p> </p><p>As part of our Resources and Waste Strategy, the Government analysed the challenges currently facing the recycling industry in this country. Through the Strategy, the Government set out how it would tackle these challenges, including making producers more responsible for the packaging they put on the market and making recycling simpler for households. We want all local waste authorities to collect the same core set of materials for recycling. We also want to introduce a deposit return system. This will increase the quantity and quality of recyclable material collected. Our approach, from production through consumption to end of life, is focused on increasing supply and demand for secondary materials to be recycled in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Our ambition is to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste over the lifetime of the 25 Year Environmental Plan. For the most problematic plastics we are going faster, which is why we have committed to working towards all plastic packaging placed on the UK market being recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 10/07/2019 12:56:24 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1127808

	registered interest
	date	21/05/2019
	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: Recycling
	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 recent discussions he has had with businesses on the use of detectable black pigment in plastics to facilitate the recycling of plastic.
	tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
	tabling member printed	Catherine West
	uin	257075
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2019 answer text <p>Defra Ministers and officials have met industry representatives to highlight the importance of increasing the recyclability of materials, including black plastics. As part of our proposals to reform the UK packaging producer responsibility system, we have outlined options that provide a financial incentive for producers to move towards using more easily recycled packaging materials and formats. We expect these initiatives by industry, combined with our reforms, to work together to eliminate from use the problematic and difficult to recycle plastic packaging.</p><p> </p><p>Industry has committed to taking action on implementing solutions to prevent black plastic waste going to landfill and encourage recycling. In April 2018, WRAP and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation published its Plastics Pact with support from Defra and 80 businesses, NGOs, government organisations and service providers. The Pact brings these organisations together with the aim of making 100% of plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. A number of UK Plastic Pact members, including Waitrose, Aldi and Lidl have committed to reducing or eliminating black plastic packaging, while other companies are using detectable pigment that enables black plastic to be recycled.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 30/05/2019 09:06:18 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1110832

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2019
	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: Recycling
	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 amount of non-recyclable plastic; and what initiatives he is rolling out on recycling.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	242710
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan, published in January 2018, its commitment to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste and to work towards all plastic packaging placed on the market being recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. Our Resource and Waste Strategy was published in December 2018 and contains details of measures that will help to achieve this.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently consulting on a suite of proposals that will lead to an increase in the supply and demand for secondary materials. These include reforming the UK packaging producer responsibility system, the introduction of a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks containers in England, and a tax on plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content, all subject to consultation. These measures will provide a strong incentive for producers to design and make plastic packaging that uses less virgin materials and is more easily recyclable.</p><p> </p><p>We want to increase the quantity and quality of material that is collected and recycled. To achieve this, we are consulting on requiring all waste collection authorities to collect the same core set of dry materials from households across England. We want to make recycling clearer and easier so that everyone knows exactly what they can put in the recycling bin, whether at work or at home.</p><p> </p><p>The consultations setting out the Government’s proposals and measures referred to above were published on 18 February and can be found here: <a href="https://consult.defra.gov.uk/environmental-quality/resource-and-waste-and-plastic-packaging-tax-consu-1/" target="_blank">https://consult.defra.gov.uk/environmental-quality/resource-and-waste-and-plastic-packaging-tax-consu-1/</a>.</p><p> </p><p>There may be times when a ban is appropriate as part of a wider strategic approach. We have already banned the sale of plastic microbeads, consulted on banning plastic drinking straws, stirrers and cotton buds, and are assessing the impact of banning other single-use plastic items.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 15/04/2019 13:12:59 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1064485

	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: Recycling
	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 the Government has made of the feasibility of banning the use of non-recyclable plastics in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	224037
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government published its Resources and Waste Strategy in December last year which sets out our plans to reduce plastic pollution.</p><p> </p><p>We have committed to working towards all plastic packaging placed on the market being recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently consulting on reforming existing packaging waste regulations, introducing a deposit return scheme for drinks containers, and increasing consistency in the recycling system, which together we expect to drive major improvements in recycling rates. Industry is also committed to increasing the recyclability of plastic packaging, including through the world-leading UK Plastics Pact. We expect these initiatives by industry, combined with our reforms, to work together to eliminate from use the most problematic and difficult to recycle plastic packaging.</p><p> </p><p>As the Resources and Waste Strategy makes clear, however, where progress is insufficient we will explore alternative policy measures, which may take the form of a ban as part of a wider strategic approach. We have already consulted on banning the distribution and/or sale of plastic straws, drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds and will shortly be publishing a summary of responses. We will continue to review the latest evidence on problematic products and/or materials to take a systematic approach to reducing the use of unnecessary single-use plastic products, including problematic packaging materials.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 25/02/2019 17:52:44 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1047845

	registered interest
	date	24/01/2019
	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: Recycling
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to (1) encourage the use of recycled and recyclable packaging, and (2) discourage the use plastic packaging that is difficult to recycle.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Redfern
	uin	HL13123
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government has committed in its Resources and Waste Strategy to reform the current packaging producer responsibility system, including measures to incentivise producers to make better, more sustainable decisions at the design stage and point of manufacture.</p><p> </p><p>At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced a new tax on plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content. Subject to consultation, this will be introduced in 2022.</p><p> </p><p>Together, reform of the packaging producer responsibility system and the new tax on plastic packaging will encourage greater recyclability and increased use of recycled materials.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 01/02/2019 14:15:51 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4551 label Biography information for Baroness Redfern

1041303

	registered interest
	date	14/01/2019
	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: Recycling
	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 increase plastic reprocessing in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	West Lancashire
	tabling member printed	Rosie Cooper
	uin	208239
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/01/2019 answer text <p>In the recently published Resources and Waste Strategy, the Government stated its ambition to further improve domestic reprocessing, and committed to several policies to help stimulate investment in UK reprocessing capacity and improve competitiveness. These policies, subject to consultation, include: implementing extended producer responsibility for various waste streams; introducing a deposit return scheme for drinks containers; raising recycling targets for plastic and other types of packaging; implementing a tax on plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content; and exploring options to ensure fair competition for all reprocessors, including tighter monitoring and enforcement of waste exports.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 17/01/2019 11:23:45 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1538 label Biography information for Rosie Cooper

993797

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2018
	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: Recycling
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the extent to which the cost of plastic recycling has increased, and (2) the impact such an increase has had on local authorities; what are the reasons for any such cost increase; and what steps they are taking to mitigate the consequences of that increase.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL10930
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2018 answer text <p>The Government works with the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to monitor recycling costs and WRAP publishes an annual Gate Fees report on costs of waste treatment. The latest report was published in July. Some local authorities (LAs) have indicated that the changing demand for waste may have caused additional pressures but that these are not universal and differ according to recycling arrangements and treatment contracts. We continue to monitor how markets might evolve in the coming months.</p><p> </p><p>WRAP data shows that 99% of LAs collected plastic bottles for recycling in 2017/18, while 77% collected rigid mixed plastics (pots, tubs and trays). Councils will come to different decisions about which materials they collect for recycling, depending on local factors and the ability to sell these materials on to recycling companies.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Government wants want to create a vibrant market for recycled materials in the UK, including plastic, and to improve recycling.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Our Resources and Waste Strategy will set out measures to deliver these ambitions.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 31/10/2018 12:41:07 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

993343

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2018
	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: Recycling
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, following accounts of widespread fraud in activities involving the recycling, export and disposal of plastics, what action they intend to take to protect and promote genuine recycling of plastic.
	tabling member printed	Lord Greaves
	uin	HL10871
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/11/2018 answer text <p>Businesses involved in the shipment of wastes are required to take all necessary steps to ensure that the waste they ship is managed in an environmentally sound manner throughout its shipment and during recycling. The export of waste for disposal is illegal and illegal exports of waste are part of the Government’s focus on tackling waste crime. Any UK operators found to be illegally exporting waste can face severe sanctions – from financial penalties up to imprisonment.</p><p>The UK environmental regulators take an intelligence led approach to checking compliance with these obligations, intervening to stop illegal exports taking place. Last year, the Environment Agency (EA) issued 158 stop notices, prohibiting the export of unsuitable waste. It stopped 367 containers of waste destined for illegal export at ports and intervened further upstream to prevent 8,974 tonnes of waste from reaching our ports. Tackling all forms of waste crime is a Government priority. The Government has commissioned a review of serious and organised waste crime and, following this, we will set out our strategic approach to waste crime as part of the Resources and Waste Strategy.</p><p>We have also committed in our 25 Year Environment Plan to reforming our producer responsibility systems (including packaging waste regulations) to incentivise producers to take greater responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products.</p><p>Waste exports will continue play an important role in resource management, however. Where the UK cannot recycle materials economically, exports can help ensure those materials are recycled rather than landfilled. As not all products sold in the UK are made in the UK, exports can help increase the amount of recyclable materials going into the new products we buy.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 01/11/2018 14:02:45 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	2569 label Biography information for Lord Greaves

945517

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2018
	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: Recycling
	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 estimate he has made of the volume of non-recyclable plastic produced in the UK in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
	tabling member printed	Catherine West
	uin	166498
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2018 answer text <p>Defra has not made an estimate of the volume of non-recyclable plastic produced in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>It is not possible to reliably estimate the volume of non-recyclable plastic sent to landfill, because large tonnages of landfilled waste are reported as “mixed” waste categories for which we do not have up to date waste composition data to derive estimates for plastic.</p><p> </p><p>The main source of plastic waste arisings in the UK, however, is packaging which accounted for around 60% of total plastics arisings in 2014. From information collected under producer responsibility obligations for packaging, the recycling rate for UK plastic packaging is around 40%.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 166499 question first answered 25/07/2018 14:08:44 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West