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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of (a) stakeholder and (b) public awareness of the polluter pays principle in the disposal of commercial waste.

No assessment has been made. Every business that produces or deals with waste has a duty of care to make sure that their waste is dealt with properly and does not end up being treated or disposed of illegally. Legitimate waste sites play a critical role in managing commercial waste to achieve high levels of resource efficiency, and are responsible for operating within regulated limits to protect the environment and human health. Where pollution occurs, the regulator will take steps to ensure that those responsible are held to account, be they a waste producer or a site operator or owner.