Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions the Government has had with the charity sector on reducing the use of single-use plastic bags in door-to-door collections.

The Government has not had any discussions with the charity sector on reducing the use of single use plastic bags in door to door collections.

Following a public consultation last year, the Fundraising Regulator has strengthened its Code of Practice, which requires charitable house to house collectors not to post collection bags to properties that indicate they do not wish to receive them, thus reducing the distribution of unwanted charity collection bags.

Charity textile collections offer a convenient way for people to reduce their environmental impact and contribute to the 650,000 tonnes of clothing reused or recycled which might otherwise be sent to landfill, while also benefiting charitable causes.