Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Commercial and Household Waste Collection

Tuesday 19 May 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • DEFRA officials are working with local authorities and industry to ensure commercial and household waste collection during the coronavirus outbreak.
  • Waste collection is considered an integral part of maintaining health and wellbeing during the pandemic.
  • Key workers in the waste sector have maintained normal collection services for 91% of households during the outbreak.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gagan Mohindra Con South West Hertfordshire
Environment
Context

The MP is concerned about ensuring waste collection for both commercial and household sectors continues amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Question

What steps he is taking to ensure that (a) commercial and (b) household waste continues to be collected during the covid-19 outbreak.

Answer from Rebecca Pow

DEFRA officials are working with local authorities and industry to ensure that commercial and household waste can continue to be collected safely during the coronavirus outbreak. I pay tribute to and thank all those working in local authorities and the waste sector who have ensured that nearly all household waste collections in England are operating as normal. On 5 May, DEFRA published guidance to help local authorities to reopen household waste and recycling centres.

Answered
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Q2 Gagan Mohindra Con South West Hertfordshire
NHS Environment
Context

The MP emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and thanking those in the waste collection industry for their role in maintaining health and wellbeing.

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree that waste collection is an integral part of ensuring health and wellbeing during this global pandemic? I know that she has thanked key workers, but would she particularly thank key workers in South West Herts? I am sure that they would appreciate her comments.

Answer from Rebecca Pow

Of course, I would be delighted to thank those key workers. We must not forget that those who work in the waste sector are key workers, and they have done a tremendous job in keeping our waste systems flowing, with a terrific record of 91% maintaining normal collection services from our households during this difficult period. Many are now working in the waste and recycling centres that I am pleased to say have opened, and that are working efficiently in almost every area—albeit with strict guidance and slightly different services from those that they were operating before.

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