Waste Disposal
(asked on 10th January 2018) - View Source
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2018 to Question 119340, what discussions officials of his Department have had with representatives of local authorities on China's recent decision to impose restrictions on imports of waste; what assessment his Department has made of potential alternative solutions to deal with such waste; and what his Department's policy is on supporting local authorities to (a) maintain and (b) increase levels of recycling.
The Secretary of State set out the Government’s position in a Written Ministerial Statement on 08 January:
Defra, WRAP and the EA met with the waste industry, local authorities and reprocessors to ensure that they are aware of their obligations in handling waste materials affected by the restrictions and in ensuring waste that cannot be exported for recycling abroad is stored safely and dealt with in the right way to minimise any risks to human health and the environment.
England’s recycling rate has increased to 44.9% in 2016. Many English authorities have also made improvements, for example, Stroud District Council, has increased its recycling rate by 14% (since 2015).
Local authorities are best placed to deliver local recycling services, and with householders have played a key role in increasing the England’s recycling rate to 44.9% in 2016/17.
The 25 Year Environment Plan sets out our commitment to make it easier for people to recycle and increase the quantity and quality of materials collected. Through the Framework for Greater Consistency, WRAP is working with industry and local authorities to ensure that a consistent set of core materials are collected by all local authorities.
WRAP provides valuable tools and resources to support local councils to improve their services. Guidance includes food waste collections, cutting contamination and approaches to material sales.