Councils 'to shun' pay-as-you-throw plans for household waste » Environment » 24dash.com

Most councils are set to shun a trial of "pay-as-you-throw" plans for household waste, research showed today.

Not one of more than 100 councils in England which responded to a survey by the Press Association said they were planning to apply to take part in a pilot of the scheme.

But the same survey found that many councils are embracing fortnightly rubbish collections - and that the system is helping to boost recycling levels.

The results showed that councils across the UK which had brought in alternate week collections had, on average, an almost 10% higher recycling rate than those which did not.

The pay-as-you-throw pilot, which forms part of the Climate Change Act, allows up to five councils in England to trial incentive schemes in which residents are rewarded for recycling or charged for producing too much waste.

While the deadline for applications is still some weeks away and councils may be unwilling to reveal plans to take part in the scheme, many of those responding expressed concerns about the potential impact bin charges could have.

Councillor Terry Neville, cabinet member for the environment at Enfield council, north London, said: "As the country is about to enter possibly the worst recession in living memory, the Government is encouraging councils up and down the country to heap more expense on households. It simply beggars belief."

He went on: "We in Enfield will not be going down this route.

"Waste collection is a major part of our service and we will not be asking our residents to fork out more money for something they are already paying for in Council Tax."

Other councils said they had decided against taking part in such schemes because they would not suit the demographics of their area or because it would undermine efforts to encourage recycling.

Ellesmere and Neston Borough Council, Cheshire, said it would not be involved in the pilot because it "would damage the good will that has been built up over the years with residents" who were already participating well in their successful recycling scheme.

Shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth said the lack of enthusiasm for the policy was "clear proof that the government's pay-as-you-throw initiative isn't fit for purpose".

"If councils and householders are against the scheme, Labour's promise to give more powers to local people seems a distant murmur.

"We want to see people rewarded for doing the right thing, not bullied for being green," he said.

Defra Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said: "The evidence shows that alternate weekly collections increase the amount that we recycle, but they are just one of the ways that local authorities can cut the amount sent to landfill in their area.

"Powers in the Climate Change Act enable up to five local authorities to pilot a scheme which offers residents financial incentives to recycle more and throw away less.

"We are currently accepting expressions of interest from local authorities to take part in these pilots, which a recent BBC survey suggested the majority of people would support, though it remains the case that it is entirely up to local authorities to do what they think is best for their area."

Five councils - Cardiff, Sefton, in Liverpool, Barnsley, Salisbury, and Cotswold District Council - said they were using barcode or microchip technology in wheelie bins.

But all said they were not used to fine people for breaking rules on rubbish and recycling.

Half the more than 160 councils (51%) polled across the UK had introduced alternate week waste collection for all or some of the homes they picked up rubbish from.

One of the main concerns that has been raised about fortnightly collections of rubbish is that it encourages rats and it smells, while residents have to sort their waste and recycling.

Some of the councils had maintained weekly pick-ups for food waste to avoid concerns over vermin. Some also had weekly recycling collections.

Around two fifths (42%) did not have fortnightly waste collections - although some picked up recycling on a two-weekly basis - while 7% were considering or planning a switch to alternate week collections.

While there was wide variation in recycling rates, those which had alternate week rubbish collections had an average recycling and composting rate of 39%, while those which didn't recycled and composted just under 30% of their waste.

One county council, Wiltshire, reported that of four districts it covered, two had rubbish pick-ups every 14 days and recycling rates of 40% or more, while the two with weekly collections recycled 24% and 27% of their waste.

And Cotswold District Council said that since it had introduced new waste services earlier this year - weekly collections of food and garden waste and fortnightly pick-ups of refuse and of recyclable paper, glass, cans and cardboard - it was recycling or composting 71% of domestic waste.

Vale Royal Borough Council, in Cheshire, said recycling rates had risen from 15% to more than 46% with the introduction of alternate week collections.

A spokesman for the Local Government Association said: "Many councils have switched to alternate weekly collections because these schemes can boost recycling and reduce the amount of waste going into landfill.

"There are some parts of the country where this system will not be appropriate, and it is up to each local authority to decide which system is best to protect the environment and keep council tax down."

And he said the LGA had lobbied for councils to have the power to introduce household incentive schemes which rewarded recycling or increased charges for excess waste if they wished to do so.

"Evidence from the continent has shown these systems can lead to increases in recycling rates, but the final decision must always rest with local authorities in consultation with local people."

He added: "Regardless of what systems are in place, we all have a responsibility to reduce the amount of waste being thrown into landfill, which is damaging the environment and expensive for the council taxpayer."

The survey also found that a number of councils, or their contractors, were having to stockpile recyclable materials because of the economic downturn.

Many were also aware their contractors exported recyclable materials legally to foreign markets, while just one - Hyndburn Borough Council in Lancashire - said it had cancelled a contract with a waste firm for illegally exporting rubbish abroad.

And a number of councils were looking at options for cutting the amount of rubbish going to landfill - including developing new incinerators, the survey found.