Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – in the House of Commons at on 22 July 2021.
Jessica Morden
Shadow Vice Chamberlain of HM Household (Whip), Chair, Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee), Chair, Statutory Instruments (Select Committee)
What steps the Government are taking to improve recycling rates.
Rebecca Pow
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
We are introducing reforms to the waste sector that will help us to increase the amount of material we recycle. These reforms include introducing consistency in household and business waste collection in England, extended producer responsibility for packaging, and a deposit return scheme for drinks containers. Together, these measures will help us to meet our commitment to recycle 70% of packaging by 2030 and 65% of municipal waste by 2035.
Jessica Morden
Shadow Vice Chamberlain of HM Household (Whip), Chair, Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee), Chair, Statutory Instruments (Select Committee)
Not only are we in Wales the third best at recycling in the world, but in Newport, under the leadership of Newport Council and Wastesavers, we are the top recycling city in Wales, and the reuse centre in the Constituency of my hon. Friend Ruth Jones is one of three nominated for civic amenity centre of the year, with rates of 90%. Does the Minister agree that the Government can learn much from Wales and Newport?
Rebecca Pow
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
I thank the hon. Lady for her question. I am not going to be sniffy about this: if we can learn lessons from anyone, I am never too proud. Equally, the challenges are different in every place. We have set our targets to increase our recycling rates here in the UK, but actually Wales, and Northern Ireland, will be joining us in the deposit return scheme. We very much welcome all the negotiations and consultations that we are having to ensure that that will work across the borders.
In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
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