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Written question asked by Charles Walker (Conservative) on Tuesday, 31 January 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 3 February 2017 (named day). It was answered by Baroness Coffey (Conservative) on Friday, 3 February 2017 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Food: Charitable Donations and Recycling

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to encourage firms to (a) recycle packaging and (b) make unsold food available to charities for distribution.

Answer

The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations place a legal obligation on UK businesses that make or use packaging to ensure that a proportion of the packaging they place on the market is recovered and recycled. This creates an incentive for companies to use less packaging and to ensure that their packaging can be recycled at end of life as it will reduce their costs in complying with the Regulations.

The Government is working with manufacturers and retailers to increase the redistribution of food that would otherwise be wasted, including the use by food banks and other charities. All major supermarkets now have relationships with redistribution organisations. Leading retailers, manufacturers, and food redistribution organisations have agreed an ambition to double the amount of surplus food they redistribute by 2020. This was announced in January.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
62465
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Charitable donations Food Recycling Packaging
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk