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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the UK's (a) overall and (b) regional residual waste treatment infrastructure; and if he will make a statement.

The assessment in the Forecasting 2020 Waste Arisings and Treatment Report, published in February 2013, noted that residual waste treatment infrastructure is key to England’s efforts to meet its target of reducing the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) going to landfill. England is on course to meet that target which is 35% of the 1995 baseline by 2020.

Waste in the UK is a devolved matter so Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will have their own assessments.

In terms of the regional adequacy, the Government’s view is that local authorities are best placed to assess their residual waste management requirements to meet their own local needs and priorities.

The forthcoming Resources and Waste Strategy will aim to ensure we have the right mix of waste infrastructure that maximises its value as a resource and minimises its environmental impact.