Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the new waste and recycling targets proposed by the European Union and their impact on the United Kingdom; and whether they plan to oppose them on the grounds of vital national interest.

The Commission's proposal for a Directive to amend EU waste legislation – including increased recycling targets – was published on 2 July. We are currently reviewing the proposals and will be consulting across Government, with the Devolved Administrations, and with interested parties that may be impacted by these proposals when developing the Government response.

We need to understand the costs and benefits of the proposals fully to be able to judge which can be supported and which opposed.