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1736879

registered interest
date	24/10/2024
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, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the recycling rates of plastic film.
tabling member constituency	Cannock Chase
tabling member printed	Josh Newbury
uin	11065
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2024 answer text <p>Yes, Defra is supporting the multi-million-pound FlexCollect project, launched in May 2022, funding local authorities to roll out kerbside plastic film collection trials. This will help gather insights to support effective collections more widely ahead of the requirement to collect plastic film from workplaces and households under Simpler Recycling.</p><p> </p><p>Kerbside plastic film collections from workplaces and households will be introduced by 31 March 2027 in England. Defra is only directly responsible for delivering this in England via Simpler Recycling. The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are working on their own plans to introduce plastic film collections under extended producer responsibility for packaging.</p> answering member constituency Coventry East answering member printed Mary Creagh question first answered 30/10/2024 13:00:37 answering member 1579 label Biography information for Mary Creagh
tabling member	5034

1735194

registered interest
date	17/10/2024
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 encourage (a) recycling, (b) composting organic waste and (c) chemically recycling film plastic; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of levying a charge on producers of film plastic to fund its recycling.
tabling member constituency	Melksham and Devizes
tabling member printed	Brian Mathew
uin	9880
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2024 answer text <p>The Government has confirmed its commitment to delivering the Collection and Packaging Reforms to the announced timelines, subject to spending review. The reforms will mean that people across England will be able to recycle the same materials, whether at home, work or school. This will include a weekly food waste collection for every household and, from March 2027, kerbside collections of plastic film packaging. Separately, packaging Extended Producer Responsibility will place a charge on all household packaging that is placed on the market, including plastic film, to cover the local authority costs of its collection, treatment and disposal.</p><p> </p><p>Together with mechanical recycling, chemical recycling technologies play a role in enabling the transition towards a circular economy. The government is aware that some stakeholders with an interest in chemically recycling plastic film are keen that a mass balance approach is used to calculate chemically recycled content in plastic packaging for the purposes of the Plastic Packaging Tax. His Majesty’s Treasury consulted on the incorporating of mass balance into the Plastic Packaging Tax in October 2023 and are preparing to publish their response before the end of the year.</p> answering member constituency Coventry East answering member printed Mary Creagh question first answered 24/10/2024 10:54:15 answering member 1579 label Biography information for Mary Creagh
tabling member	5214

1717568

registered interest
date	13/05/2024
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, if he will publish a circular economy strategy for plastics which sets (a) targets and (b) measures for the (i) elimination and (ii) recycling of single-use plastics.
tabling member constituency	Rochdale
tabling member printed	George Galloway
uin	25780
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2024 answer text <p>The Resources and Waste Strategy sets out how we want to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042 and move towards a circular economy. In 2023 we published the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) which set out our progress in this area and future plans.</p><p> </p><p>Where the evidence supports the case, we will not hesitate to introduce bans and other measures to limit its use. We have brought in multiple bans and restrictions, including most recently in October 2023, on the supply of many unnecessary single-use plastic items. To tackle the use of virgin plastic and incentivise the use of recycled plastic, the Government brought in the Plastic Packaging Tax in April 2022.</p><p> </p><p>Meanwhile, our Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging reforms will incentivise businesses to use packaging that is more easily recyclable and where possible, eliminate single-use plastic.</p><p> </p><p>We do not currently intend to publish any further strategies as we continue to work on our plans laid out in the EIP.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 20/05/2024 13:39:43 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	609 label Biography information for George Galloway

1701282

registered interest
date	16/04/2024
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 his Department has made of the implications for his policies of the size of the global market for recycled rigid plastics; and what steps his Department is taking to develop (a) recycling capabilities of local authorities and (b) the global market for recycled rigid plastics.
tabling member constituency	Suffolk Coastal
tabling member printed	Dr Thérèse Coffey
uin	21984
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>In December 2018, the UK Government published its Resources and Waste Strategy. This sets out how we will achieve a circular economy for plastic and achieve our ambition to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042. Our goal is to maximise resource efficiency and minimise waste (including plastic) - by following the principles of the waste hierarchy: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – to keep plastic in circulation for longer. We will do this by making producers more responsible for the plastic they make with our incoming Collection and Packaging Reforms.</p><p> </p><p>Simpler Recycling will make recycling clearer and more consistent across England. Local authorities will be required to collect the same materials from households in the following core groups: metal; glass; plastic: paper and card; food waste; garden waste by March 2026 (with plastic film collections being introduced by March 2027). This will reduce confusion with recycling to improve recycling rates, ensuring there is more recycled material in the products we buy, and the UK recycling industry will grow. As well as Simpler Recycling, we are introducing Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging and a Deposit Return Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>To tackle the use of virgin plastics, the Government brought in the Plastic Packaging Tax in April 2022, a tax of over £200 per tonne on plastic packaging manufactured in, or imported into the UK, that does not contain at least 30% recycled plastic. We have since increased the tax to £217.85 per tonne and will continue to monitor the situation and adjust accordingly.</p><p> </p><p>There is a growing global demand for recycled plastics, including recycled rigid plastics. For example, IMARC estimates the size of the global plastic recycling market in 2023 to be $42bn and projects it to grow to $62bn by 2032.</p><p> </p><p>With 35% plastic content, the Government earlier this year consulted on measures to reduce the 155,000 tonnes of small electricals that are thrown in the bin annually. The government response will be published in due course.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 24/04/2024 10:18:48 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey

1692462

registered interest
date	28/02/2024
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 has taken to contribute towards the target in the Global Plastics Treaty of a 75% reduction in virgin plastic production and single-use plastics by 2040.
tabling member constituency	Preston
tabling member printed	Sir Mark Hendrick
uin	16076
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2024 answer text <p>The UK is a leading voice in tackling plastic pollution and were proud to co-sponsor the proposal to prepare a new international, legally binding plastics treaty. Negotiations have not yet concluded; however, the UK are committed to securing an ambitious agreement by the end of 2024 and have called for the treaty to include measures that restrain and reduce the production and consumption of plastic to sustainable levels.</p><p> </p><p>We have banned the use of microbeads in rinse-off personal care products. Our single-use plastic carrier bag charge, now 10p, has reduced the number of such bags given out by the main supermarkets by over 98%. We brought in measures to restrict the supply of single-use plastic straws and single-use plastic stemmed cotton buds and ban the supply of plastic drink stirrers in 2020. And in October 2023, we banned the supply of single-use plastic plates, bowls, and trays to the end-user and banned the supply of single-use plastic cutlery and single-use plastic balloon sticks and expanded and foamed extruded polystyrene food and drinks containers, including cups. In April 2022, we brought in the Plastic Packaging Tax, a tax of £200 per tonne on plastic packaging manufactured in, or imported into the UK, that does not contain at least 30% recycled plastic. From April 2023, it has increased in line with inflation to £210.82/tonne.</p><p> </p><p>Under the UK Plan for Shipments of Waste, it is generally prohibited to export waste for disposal, subject to some exceptions within that plan' <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F6140b69f8fa8f503c6403e4b%2FUK_plan_shipments_waste.pdf&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C877c1c7ab98a4f370bd308dc3a142d4c%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638449105536903759%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=4cCXanlL%2B%2BS46CYp9pOMRBGJWan4OcHq34PTna6bDrY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">UK plan for shipments of waste (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Businesses involved in the export of waste are required by law to take all necessary steps to ensure that the waste they ship is managed in an environmentally sound manner throughout its shipment and during its recycling. Individuals and businesses found to be exporting waste in contravention of these requirements can face a two-year jail term and an unlimited fine. In addition, the Government has committed to banning the export of plastic waste to countries which are not members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and we plan to consult this year on the date by which this should be achieved.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore grouped question UIN 16075 question first answered 08/03/2024 13:59:55 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

1640204

registered interest
date	24/05/2023
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 His Majesty's Government what is their response to the Greenpeace report Forever Toxic: The science on health threats from plastic recycling, published on 24 May; in particular, the finding that "recycled plastics often contain higher levels of chemicals".
tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
uin	HL8092
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/06/2023 answer text <p>We welcome the breadth of ongoing work in this area such as the research carried out by Greenpeace. In accordance with the waste hierarchy, in all circumstances, preventing waste in the first place is the preferred option.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 02/06/2023 11:06:22 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

1605367

registered interest
date	20/03/2023
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 His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the operation of plastic packaging recycling services in supermarkets and other retail settings, and (2) whether the availability of such services is increasing or decreasing.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hayman of Ullock
uin	HL6627
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2023 answer text <p>UK Plastic Pact members have introduced more than 6,000 supermarket collection points across the UK, and the availability of these collection points is increasing.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 28/03/2023 15:40:43 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4395 label Biography information for Baroness Hayman of Ullock

1602582

registered interest
date	08/03/2023
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 His Majesty's Government what engagement they have had with research projects sponsored by UK Research and Innovation’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge, including Compostable Coalition UK’s ‘Closing the Loop for Compostable Packaging’ project.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL6269
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2023 answer text <p>UK Government officials regularly engage with UK Research and Innovation to discuss projects under the Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 16/03/2023 15:50:47 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1602584

registered interest
date	08/03/2023
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 His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of composting facilities across England that treat compostable packaging.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL6271
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2023 answer text <p>There are 199 composting facilities in England. There are 143 anaerobic digestion facilities with a permit to treat organic waste in England. 142 of these anaerobic digestion sites are wet AD sites which generally do not accept materials that need to be composted in an industrial composting process and one of these sites is a dry AD plant that may be able to treat compostable materials.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 16/03/2023 15:49:36 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1565001

registered interest
date	09/01/2023
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 she has made of the importance of investment in chemical recycling for delivering a circular economy in the plastics sector.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	118999
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2023 answer text <p>In the Resources and Waste Strategy, we have committed to taking actions which will help to stimulate private investment in recycling infrastructure. Chemical recycling offers a potential complementary route for plastic recycling where mechanical recycling is impractical or uneconomic and we continue to consider how chemical recycling could play a role in ensuring more of our plastic waste is recycled domestically to meet our ambition of a 65% recycling rate by 2035. WRAP recently published an updated plastic waste hierarchy which references chemical recycling and its potential for offering a complementary recycling route to mechanical recycling for certain plastics. The Government has also funded innovative demonstrator projects, including on chemical recycling, through UKRI’s Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging programme.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 27/01/2023 13:29:00 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah