Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help support (a) local authorities and (b) businesses to (i) comply with new plastic regulations and (ii) transition to sustainable alternatives.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We have interpreted this question as referring to Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging, as well as our work on reducing Single Use Plastics.
The Government has provided approximately £700,000 to support local authorities in enforcing the 2023 bans and restrictions on single-use plastics. The 2023 bans cover single-use plastic cutlery, balloon sticks, drinks stirrers, and food and drink containers made of expanded and extruded polystyrene. In addition, there are restrictions on supplying single-use plastic plates, bowls, trays, straws, and cotton buds, subject to certain exemptions.
Updated guidance has been published on GOV.UK to assist both Trading Standards officers and businesses in interpreting the scope of the legislation. The guidance can be accessed here: Single-use plastics bans and restrictions - GOV.UK
These resources are intended to strengthen enforcement and ensure effective implementation of the Regulations.
The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024, which introduces an obligation for producers to pay for the collection and disposal costs of their household packaging when it becomes waste, came into effect on 1 January 2025. On Friday 27 June 2025, PackUK released a policy statement on the modulation of pEPR fees, which will be introduced in year 2 of pEPR (2026) and will raise or lower the base fees per material to incentivise materials that are recyclable. pEPR will secure Local Authority (LA) funding (c£1.4bn annually) for the improved management of discarded packaging materials, driving in turn improvements in the quality and quantity of recycled packaging materials.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding her Department plans to provide for plastic reprocessing infrastructure in each of the next three years; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of that funding on (a) trends in the level of (i) landfill, (ii) incineration and (iii) domestic recycling capacity.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra currently has no plans to fund plastics reprocessing infrastructure. There are existing mechanisms including the market-based Packaging Waste Recycling Notes (PRN) system to provide direct funding to the reprocessing sector.
This year sees the start of Defra’s packaging reforms. Simpler Recycling mandates that all local authorities and businesses in England collect the same core set of materials for recycling. These reforms will support private investment in infrastructure, including plastics, by building certainty and guaranteeing supply of materials for recycling. Simpler Recycling requirements will be extended to flexible plastics by 31 March 2027.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) design innovation and (b) the recyclability of plastic products to help accelerate the the transition to a circular economy for plastics.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is committed to moving to a circular economy – a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is reduced, we accelerate the path to net zero, we see investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs, our economy prospers, and nature thrives.
The Government has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England, which we plan to publish for consultation in the coming months. As we develop our Circular Economy Strategy for England, we will consider the evidence for further action that can be taken to address the challenges associated with plastic products. We recognise the importance of managing and reducing plastic waste, and in taking a whole-economy approach.
To support the recyclability of plastic products, the Government funds the UK Plastics Pact (UKPP) through the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). Pact Members cover the entire plastics value chain and are responsible for the majority of plastic packaging sold through UK supermarkets, and around two thirds of total plastic packaging placed on the UK market. Members of the Pact have increased the average recycled content of their packaging from 8.5% to 26% since 2018.
In parallel, our reforms to the packaging sector and recycling collection systems will clamp down on plastic pollution and litter and clean up our environment with packaging for Extended Producer Responsibility in particular incentivising the use of less packaging and more recyclable packaging.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) reviewed research on the potential (i) environmental and (ii) health impact of (A) microplastics and (B) nanoplastics on (1) ecosystems and (2) food chains.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In 2022, Defra initiated a research project to investigate the risks of intentionally added microplastics, which reviewed the emissions from microplastics, and the risks they pose both to human health and the environment. Earlier this year, we published this Option Appraisal for Intentionally Added Microplastics, which provides a welcome addition to our sum of knowledge on the options to protect human health and the UK environment from the risks of microplastics.
The Environment Agency (EA) is supporting collaborative research which will support future policy and regulatory decisions on microplastics and nanoplastics by extension. This includes six investigations with the water industry under the Chemical Investigations Programme, considering generation of microplastics within wastewater treatment works through breakdown of plastic equipment, emerging sewage treatment technologies, and pathways of microplastics from biosolids applied to land to soils and groundwater. The EA is also conducting research into tyre wear particles and associated chemicals – one report has been published this year and another is due to be published later this year. The EA is also supporting National Highways and academic partners on research into microplastics generated during driving and strategies to intercept them in highway runoff. While the EA’s research is driven by environmental risk, the data could benefit public health risk assessment by the relevant bodies.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) continues to monitor and assess emerging data regarding microplastics in food. The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products, and the Environment (COT), an independent scientific committee that provides advice to the FSA and other Government departments is currently considering the issue of microplastics. The COT has previously concluded that the available data was insufficient for a complete assessment. The FSA is keeping the issue of microplastics under review as new evidence becomes available.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of biodiversity net gain requirements on the (a) cost and (b) timeline for the development of grassroots sports facilities.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has recently concluded a consultation on improving the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for minor, medium and brownfield development. It sought views on a potential partial exemption to BNG for parks, public gardens and playing fields development. Responses are being analysed, and the Government will publish a response to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of exempting (a) parks, (b) gardens and (c) playing fields from biodiversity net gain requirements.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has recently concluded a consultation on improving the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for minor, medium and brownfield development. It sought views on a potential partial exemption to BNG for parks, public gardens and playing fields development. Responses are being analysed, and the Government will publish a response to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) help reduce the number of (i) appliances and (ii) electronics which are thrown away and (b) support local repair cafes.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to reducing waste by moving to a circular economy and is developing a circular economy strategy. The approach reduces all forms of waste; moving materials and products up the waste hierarchy to reduce new inputs, prolong lifetime functionality and support sustainable economic activity, social safeguarding, and environmental preservation. We have already taken steps to reduce the 5 million single use vapes discarded weekly by introducing our single use vapes ban, which will come into force in June 2025.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage reductions in household waste.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to creating a roadmap to a circular economy – a future where we keep our resources in use for longer; waste is reduced; we accelerate the path to net zero; we see investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs; our economy prospers; and nature thrives.
We continue to support the Waste and Resources Action Programme in waste prevention activities including support for Textiles 2030 and Courtauld 2030.
Alongside this, the Simpler Recycling reforms will ensure that across England, people will be able to recycle the same materials, no longer needing to check what their council will accept for recycling. Every household across England will be able to recycle the same materials across the following waste streams: metal; glass; plastic: paper and card; food waste; garden waste.
This policy will make recycling easier and ensure there is a comprehensive, consistent service across England. This will reduce confusion with recycling to improve recycling rates, ensuring there is more recycled material in the products we buy, and stimulating the UK recycling industry will grow.
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support industry to reduce waste generated in the construction industry.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The 9 English Water and Sewerage Companies (WaSCs) submit data to the Environment Agency on the total quantity of sludge sent to different outlets to meet the European reporting requirements. The total sludge sent to the agriculture outlet over the last 10 years is shown in the table below.
Year | Total sludge to agriculture – England only (tonnes dry solids) |
2014 | 716,928 |
2015 | 696,355 |
2016 | 750,049 |
2017 | 726,063 |
2018 | 752,992 |
2019 | 698,597 |
2020 | 761,246 |
2021 | 759,578 |
2022 | 766,630 |
2023 | 764,810 |
Asked by: Tom Hayes (Labour - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage (a) reuse and (b) repair of items that would otherwise be thrown away.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government committed in its manifesto to reducing waste by moving to a circular economy. The Secretary of State has committed to developing a new Circular Economy Strategy for England to support economic growth, deliver green jobs, promote efficient and productive use of resources, minimise negative environmental impacts and accelerate to Net Zero.
We will work across Government, and with input from all parts of society, to create a Strategy which supports and encourages greater reuse and repair.
Defra has also published guidance Guidance on applying the waste hierarchy - GOV.UK on how businesses can use the waste hierarchy – a framework for dealing with waste which promotes re-use. The guidance shows how it works for a range of common materials and products and what businesses and public bodies need to do. It gives top priority to preventing waste in the first place. When waste is created, it gives priority to preparing it for re-use, then recycling, then recovery, and last of all disposal (e.g. landfill).