Written question asked by Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 22 October 2018, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 5 November 2018. It was answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Conservative) on Friday, 2 November 2018 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Plastics: Waste Disposal

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they are providing to waste collection authorities that are suspending the collection of plastics or considering doing so owing to the difficulties of finding reliable markets for the plastic materials.

Answer: Since 2015 all councils have had to collect waste paper, metal, plastic and glass by separate collection, except where this is not necessary to provide a sufficiently high quality of recyclate or where it is not technically, environmentally or economically practicable. My honourable friend, Therese Coffey, has taken up this issue with the local government association and will also be sharing her concerns with the regulator, the Environment Agency.

Secondary information