VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Waste Disposal: Ghana

Asked by Bell Ribeiro-AddyLabourDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 3 September 2025UIN 71064

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether systems are in place to (a) record and (b) monitor the (i) tonnage, (ii) quality and (iii) composition of post-consumer textile exports from the UK to Ghana; and what evidence exporters are required to submit on (A) sorting, (B) reuse and (C) disposal practices in destination countries.

Answered by Mary Creagh

Exporters of waste textiles must provide information on where the waste is being exported to, and the operation the waste will be subject to at its final destination.

UK legislation requires that those involved in the shipments of textile waste take all necessary steps to ensure that it is managed in an environmentally sound manner throughout its shipment and in its country of destination. Exporters operating in contravention of the requirements of the UK’s legislation can face a two-year jail term and an unlimited fine. The four UK regulators for waste exports conduct proactive, risk based and intelligence-led interventions and compliance activities to prevent illegal waste shipments before they leave the UK.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim