VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Waste: Crime

Asked by Adam JogeeLabourDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 16 December 2025UIN 98011

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will consider the potential merits of developing a stand alone waste crime strategy.

Answered by Mary Creagh

This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. The Government convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help map that transition; in the new year we will publish a Circular Economy Growth Plan that sets out how government will deliver a more circular and more prosperous economy.

Waste crime threatens this by undermining waste businesses and by taking resources away from that circular economy. The priority is to focus on tangible action to address waste crime, including working with the Environment Agency to drive improvements, swift delivery of our planned reforms and our transition to a circular economy.

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