To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of high-rise accommodation without a waste shoot that allows for recycling separation on (a) residents’ ability to recycle and (b) UK efforts to tackle climate change; and if she will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to make it easier for people who live in high-rise accommodation to recycle.

The Resources and Waste Strategy published in December 2018 includes a commitment for a comprehensive range of recycling materials to be collected from all properties from 2023. We know that recycling materials are already collected successfully from many blocks of flats. However, there is limited data on which properties have chute systems so at the moment it is difficult to assess how far recycling separation is possible in a building without a waste chute. Work is underway to improve data capture on a range of high-density property types.

Resource London (a joint London Waste and Recycling Board and WRAP initiative) has carried out research to increase recycling from flats and we expect the findings to be published shortly. This information will be helpful to local authorities wishing to improve recycling and complements information that WRAP already provides on recycling from flats.

Measures announced in the recently published Environment Bill will support our commitment to increase consistency in recycling and we will consult on guidance which will include advice on service provision for different property types to improve recycling and to ensure good practice schemes can be implemented in all properties, including high rise accommodation.