Councils refuse to pilot 'pay-as-you-throw' bin tax

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Local Government

No councils have come forward to take part in the controversial "pay-as-you-throw" waste trial aimed at boosting recycling, the Department for Environment (Defra) said today.

The pilot would have seen up to five councils run financial incentive schemes which reward householders who recycle most and charge extra to those who leave the most rubbish out.

Local authorities had been asked to apply to take part in the scheme, which would have begun in April, but Defra said that no council had responded by today's deadline.

Environment Minister Jane Kennedy said: "The powers in the Climate Change Act enabling up to five voluntary pilot schemes were introduced at the request of local authorities and it is up to them whether they want to use them.

"No local authorities have expressed an interest in piloting a scheme at this time.

"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, and we have seen great progress over the last few years."

The announcement follows a survey by the Press Association which revealed that not one of more than 100 councils in England questioned was planning to apply for the scheme - with many expressing concerns that it could damage efforts to get people to recycle.

The plans to give councils the power to levy charges on households that create the most waste were announced while Tony Blair was prime minister in 2007.

After Gordon Brown took over, the scheme was downgraded to being piloted by five local authorities, with the prospect of an England-wide roll-out set back until 2012/13.

But the financial incentives scheme has proved controversial, with some councils and the Conservative Party labelling them "bin taxes", and fears being raised of an increase in fly-tipping and public protests.

Caroline Spelman, shadow communities and local government secretary, said: "Bin taxes are now dead in the water, in a major snub for Gordon Brown and his Labour Ministers.

"The bin tax laws should now be repealed and taken off the statute book.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."

The Tories' Eric Pickles, when he was shadow communities and local government secretary, wrote to all Conservative councils urging them not to take part in the scheme.

Richard Kemp, deputy chairman of the Local Government Association, said his organisation had lobbied for councils to be able to introduce waste incentive schemes when it was right to do so and in a way that worked locally.

"Evidence from America and the continent has shown these schemes can boost recycling and reward those households that do their bit for the environment."

But he said: "It is unsurprising that no councils have come forward to take part in the pilots given that Defra has not published its rules for how they must operate.

"In the absence of any steer ahead of the deadline, local authorities were understandably reluctant."

And he added: "It is vital that people continue to recycle as much as possible. Local authorities and local people are facing huge EU fines if we do not stop sending so much waste into landfill, which will lead to hikes in council tax and cuts in services."

Susan Hall, head of environment services at Harrow Council, west London, said: "I'm not surprised that no councils have come forward to take part in pay-as-you throw.

"I think the best way forward is to take residents with you by encouragement to recycle, not by handing out spot fines or extra bills.

"That has worked for us - we are now the second best recycler in London, and that has been done by explaining why we recycle and thanking residents for helping us get the results."

Responding to the LGA's claims, a Defra spokeswoman said extensive draft guidance documents had been available for local authorities since June 2008, and the department had sought views from councils on the guidance last summer.

She added that Defra and waste reduction body Wrap had been available to provide support and guidance to local authorities considering how they could use the powers in the Climate Change Act.

The failure of the pilot to attract any interest among councils effectively spells the end of any plans to roll out the scheme more widely in England, as any expansion was to be dependent on the success of the trials.