To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which steps his Department has taken to evaluate the new multi-modal refuse collection vehicle for London. (244879)

Section 45 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 places the duty to collect commercial and household waste in England on waste collection authorities. These authorities are better placed than central Government to make decisions on the best sustainable waste management strategy for their area and consequently DEFRA does not interfere in these decisions.

It would be a matter for the local authority planning to use a particular vehicle or collection methodology to assess all aspects of its suitability.