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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to reduce the amount of waste that goes in to landfill.

Delivering a more resource efficient, sustainable and circular economy is essential if we are to continue to maximise the opportunities for economic and environmental growth and protect human health. We want to make the best use of materials and resources, keeping them in circulation by maximising the lifetime and value of our products, improving resource productivity and preventing and dealing with waste and recycling properly. This includes moving away from landfill to more environmentally beneficial and higher value uses. Landfill tax is the main driver in diverting residual waste from landfill and is currently £82.60 per tonne. Defra is also investing £3 billion in a number of Local Authority projects through Waste Infrastructure Credits. This is contributing towards the reduction of waste sent to landfill, promoting renewable energy, recycling and stimulating growth.