Tory scheme to reward recycling

Householders who recycle could earn £130 a year in shopping vouchers under a scheme planned by the Conservatives.

Shadow chancellor George Osborne is unveiling the incentive plan as a contrast to what he describes as Labour's "indifferent" approach to the green agenda.

It follows a pilot scheme in Tory-controlled Windsor and Maidenhead Council which offers vouchers for retailers such as Marks & Spencer, and claims to have boosted recycling by 30%.

In a speech at Imperial College, London, today, Mr Osborne will say that the initiative will be rolled out across the country if the party is elected, helping to save cash for landfill taxes.

In the first year of a Tory administration, central government carbon emissions would also be cut by 10%, he is to say. This could save £300 million in energy costs which would be used to tackle debt.

Mr Osborne will say: "I want a Conservative Treasury to be in lead of developing the low carbon economy and financing a green recovery.

"For I see in this green recovery not just the fight against climate change, but the fight for jobs, the fight for new industry, the fight for lower family energy bills and the fight for less wasteful government."

The party has recruited three businesses to provide advice on how to cut carbon emissions - Tesco, BT and B&Q.

Tory plans also include proposals for a "green" investment bank and eco-friendly ISAs.

Mr Osborne will also attack Alistair Darling's record on the environment, saying: "When it comes to environmental policy the Treasury has often been at best indifferent, and at worst obstructive.

"Watch an episode of Yes, Minister if you want to know what happens - or what doesn't happen - when the Treasury isn't engaged.

"Isn't it telling that Alistair Darling hasn't made a major speech on the environment for two years?

"That attitude is going to change if the Government changes."

Environment secretary Ed Miliband dismissed the plans, saying that the Conservatives had opposed Labour proposals to invest in green industries.

He said: "This so-called greening of the Treasury involves no new money.

"The truth is that the Tories have opposed Labour's extra public investment, including the £400 million allocated at the time of the budget for new green industries. So why should anyone believe a piece of greenwash from George Osborne?"

Liberal Democrat energy spokesman Simon Hughes accused Mr Osborne of a u-turn.

He said: "George Osborne's decision to back a 10% cut in the emissions of Government departments is a good idea now and was a good idea one month ago when he and his leader failed to vote for a Liberal Democrat motion that would have done exactly this.

"It's a pity the Tories' deeds so often fail to match their words. Just weeks ago, the entire Conservative group shamefully walked out of a London Assembly meeting to tackle CO2 emissions in London, preventing the capital from signing up to 10:10.

"If the Tories want to learn about local best practice on the environment, they should look to Liberal Democrat councils who have led the way in greening Britain's cities."