Written question asked by Lord Whitehead (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 June 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 27 June 2000. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Tuesday, 27 June 2000 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans he has to introduce a producer responsibility regime for plastic bags.

Answer: Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to introduce a producer responsibility regime for plastic bags. [127725] Ms Hewitt: Plastic bags, in common with bags made of other materials such as paper, that are used for the containment, protection handling, delivery or presentation of goods are classified as packaging. A producer responsibility regime exists for packaging in the form of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997. These Regulations place an obligation on business throughout the packaging chain who meet certain threshold requirements, to recover and recycle packaging waste.

Secondary information