To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Government is making on implementing the amendments to the Waste Framework Directive which requires separate collection of clothing waste from households and increased re-use of textiles by 2025.
Answered on
25 June 2019
Latest information from the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) indicates that 90 local authorities in England offer households a kerbside collection of textiles. Many more provide collection points at household waste recycling centres or at bring bank sites. These bring sites provide an important service where kerbside collections are not available or may not be practical. Charity shop outlets also play an important role in acting as collection points for textiles from members of the public. We want to increase the amount of textiles that are diverted from landfill and put into recycling or reuse, and will bring forward proposals as necessary to ensure separate collection of textiles by 2025.
More widely, the Government’s Resources and Waste Strategy published in December 2018 sets out our plans to prevent textile waste and encourage greater circularity including reuse. These include:
- Reviewing and consulting on Extended Producer Responsibility for textiles and four other priority waste streams;
- Developing regulatory measures for product standards that improve the durability, repairability, and recyclability of products such as clothing;
- Improving consumer information and supporting a shift in the market;
- Working with brands, manufacturers, charities and others through the Sustainable Clothing Action Plan to reduce the environmental footprint of clothing and encourage consumers to donate and reuse clothing.
This month, we have also announced a multimillion pound grant scheme to support the development of textile recycling facilities in the UK. Further information on this is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fund-opens-to-reduce-waste-from-plastic-packaging-and-textiles and applications for funding can be made through WRAP: http://www.wrap.org.uk/content/resource-action-fund.