Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the environmental impact of exporting aluminium scrap to Asia, compared to recycling it domestically; what implications that exporting has for the UK’s circular economy objectives; and what steps they are taking to protect the UK’s aluminium recycling industry from increasing exports of aluminium scrap to Asia.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Overseas facilities receiving UK waste must be operated in accordance with standards that are broadly equivalent to those established in UK legislation.
Defra is committed to building a circular economy that enhances industry competition and capitalises on the UK’s potential in aluminium processing, whilst realising our environmental objectives. We recognise that export markets can complement domestic reprocessing to ensure more of our waste is recycled, but we are keen to ensure there is a level playing field for UK reprocessors.
This includes working with the UK regulators to ensure the proper enforcement of our rules and regulations.