I agree that we need to do all we can to encourage people to recycle and use resources efficiently. I believe reusable nappies can make a valuable contribution to reducing residual waste that has to be disposed of to landfill or incineration.

The Government is committed to eliminating all avoidable waste by 2050 – preventing waste, encouraging more reuse and recycling and making it easier for households to recycle. To help realise this plan, an ambitious Resources and Waste Strategy was published in 2018 which will overhaul England’s waste system, putting a legal onus on those responsible for producing damaging waste to take far greater responsibility for the products they place on the market than is currently the case.

The Strategy sets out the intention to put in place requirements that support durability, reparability and recyclability for relevant products in a similar manner to requirements for energy-related products. The right approach for each product such as reuse rather than recycling requires careful consideration, taking account of factors such as waste benefits versus energy usage. I am aware that the Government is currently carrying out research on nappies that will look at issues such as the relative energy, water and waste impacts of the alternatives.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minsters and officials, have met with the Nappy Alliance which supports the use of reusable nappies, and also with Proctor & Gamble to learn about their disposable nappy recycling technology.