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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure a level playing field between companies who export plastic recycling and UK based plastic reprocessors.

The export of waste is subject to strict controls set out in UK legislation. Facilities receiving UK waste must be operated in accordance with human health and environmental protection standards that are broadly equivalent to those established in UK legislation.

Defra is committed to building a circular economy that enhances growth and capitalises on the UK’s potential in plastic processing, whilst realising our environmental objectives. The Government’s collection and packaging reforms will help to stimulate investment in the UK reprocessing infrastructure.