Local authorities across the country have turned their back on a Government recycling scheme which could have seen those leaving the most waste penalised. No councils have chosen to take part in a pilot project which would have rewarded frequent recyclers and charged those leaving the most rubbish out. Opposition parties have claimed the so called "bin tax" was now dead in the water.
The plan dates back to 2007, when former Prime Minister Tony Blair said councils should be authorised to charge households putting out the most waste to encourage recycling. The scheme was subsequently changed to a pilot project under the Climate Change Act 2008, with five councils given the opportunity to take part. However it has emerged that no councils have expressed an interest in the project at this stage.
Critics of the scheme have argued that it was widely unpopular and that councils should be free to devise their own recycling schemes on the basis of local need. Environment Minister Jane Kennedy said local authorities had requested greater powers to deal with household waste and it was "up to them" whether they chose to use them. "It is absolutely right and laudable that local authorities are working hard to reduce the amount of waste thrown away and increase the amount recycled. We have made great progress over the last few years."
Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, Caroline Spelman said, "Bin taxes are now dead in the water, in a major snub for Gordon Brown and Labour. The laws should now be repealed and taken off the statute book. These unpopular new taxes would harm the environment by fuelling fly-tipping and backyard burning and hike tax bills for struggling families."
