Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to support the roll out of a national reusable nappy incentive scheme.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
In line with the 25 Year Environment Plan and our Resources and Waste Strategy, we are considering the best approach to minimise the environmental impact of a range of products, including nappies, taking on board the environmental and social impacts of the options available.
Potential additional policy measures include standards, consumer information and encouraging voluntary action by business which could include a national reusable nappy incentive scheme.
We are funding an environmental assessment of disposable and washable absorbent hygiene products with the primary focus on nappies, and we need to wait for the outcome of that work before considering possible future action by the Government and industry. The assessment is looking at the waste and energy impacts of washable and disposable products, disposal to landfill or incineration, and recycling options. The research will be published later this year, following peer review.