Baroness Meacher debates involving the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs during the 2024 Parliament

Waste: Incineration

Baroness Meacher Excerpts
Tuesday 22nd October 2024

(1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Hayman of Ullock Portrait Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
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This Government, as I am sure the noble Lord is aware, have pledged great support for nuclear energy going forward. We need it as part of our future energy security, and small modular reactors are clearly a part of that nuclear journey.

Baroness Meacher Portrait Baroness Meacher (CB)
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My Lords, plastic waste is a major problem for the planet, yet plastic is eminently reusable. What action are the Government taking to improve and increase the level of reuse of plastic?

Baroness Hayman of Ullock Portrait Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
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That is a very good point: we talk about recycling a lot but we do not talk enough about reuse. That has to be a critical part of reducing the amount of waste that we have as a country. This is very much part of the discussions with local authorities, because they have a key role to play in this. Also, encouraging people on behaviour change is difficult and the Government definitely have a role to play in that.