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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether officials in his Department have had discussions with Council leaders on the potential merits of allowing local decision makers greater control over the design of local household waste recycling centre services.

No, officials have not had any such discussions. The Environmental Protection Act requires that waste disposal authorities provide places for residents to dispose of household waste. Householders must be allowed to deposit waste deemed to be ‘household waste’ for free. This encourages responsible waste disposal and recycling. Local authorities may otherwise determine how best to deliver a service that meets the needs of their residents.