Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Plastic Waste

Thursday 22 April 2021 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial steps to tackle plastic waste include increasing reuse and recycling in line with a circular economy approach.
  • Jacob Young invited the Minister to visit the ReNew ELP site in Redcar and Cleveland to understand ongoing efforts against plastic waste.
  • Ruth Jones highlighted the need for action from the Joint Unit for Waste Crime in addressing litter and waste issues in her constituency.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jacob Young
Environment
Context

Plastic waste is a significant issue in coastal areas, particularly impacting communities like the one Jacob Young represents.

Question

What steps he is taking to tackle plastic waste. Plastic waste is a huge problem in coastal communities such as mine, but does the Minister agree that it is not that plastic is the problem but that waste is the problem and we should do all we can to tackle waste?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

My hon. Friend has spoken to me about this matter before. It is vital that we tackle plastic waste by taking a holistic approach, which includes increasing reuse and recycling, in line with our ambition to transition to a more circular economy. More work is required to understand where chemical recycling represents the best outcome for waste and to assess any unintended consequences.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Visit to ReNew ELP site not confirmed or addressed directly

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Q2 Jacob Young
Environment
Context

Plastic waste is a significant issue in coastal areas, particularly impacting communities like the one Jacob Young represents.

Question

Does the Minister agree that it is not that plastic is the problem but that waste is the problem and we should do all we can to tackle waste? Will she come to Redcar and Cleveland, when restrictions allow, to visit the new site for ReNew ELP at Wilton, which began construction last month and where revolutionary hydrothermal technology will be used to turn hard-to-recycle plastics back into their component oils, allowing them to be reused?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

My hon. Friend has spoken to me about this matter before. It is vital that we tackle plastic waste by taking a holistic approach, which includes increasing reuse and recycling, in line with our ambition to transition to a more circular economy. More work is required to understand where chemical recycling represents the best outcome for waste and to assess any unintended consequences.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Visit to ReNew ELP site not confirmed or addressed directly

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Q3 Ruth Jones Lab Newport West and Islwyn
Environment
Context

The Peterstone Wentlooge area of Newport West is heavily affected by fly-tipping, costing the taxpayer significant amounts in clean-up costs.

Question

It is good to be here in the Chamber and see you face to face today, Mr Speaker. The Joint Unit for Waste Crime is an important component of the fight against waste, fly-tipping and littering. Peterstone Wentlooge area of Newport West is a good example of an area in dire need of action from this unit, as the “road to nowhere” there, as it is known, is blighted by fly-tipping, including noxious substances and chemicals. Clean-up costs for more than 1 million fly-tips cost the taxpayer £58 million in 2017-18.

Answer from Rebecca Pow

I thank the hon. Lady for her question and I am sorry to hear about that road to nowhere. We have a whole policy on tackling litter, including “Keep it, Bin it”, which has been extremely effective. Local authorities can take people to court and impose hefty fines.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific commitment or timeline for action against waste crime

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