If the Tories win the next election, it appears that weekly bin collections will remain a once a week scheme rather than going to a fortnightly collection.
Shadow Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles claims that the Tories will end the current policy of “bin cuts”, which can be a hazard to public health. Pickles also stated that the Conservatives would get rid of “unelected quangos” and use available funds saved to improve recycling and standard rubbish collection schemes.
The current policy of councils being permitted to impose a special fee on households that fail to recycle will also be nixed.
Mr Pickles also committed to promoting various “green incentives” including trials for water butts and free green compost bins as well as the ‘Recyclebank’ scheme, a programme used in the U.S., where householders are rewarded for recycling. Additionally, councils will be given the power to introduce incentives such as tax cuts for “green behaviour”.
Mr Pickles added: “Despite soaring levels of council tax, local residents are being hit by cuts to collections, over-zealous use of bin fines and the prospect of expensive new bin taxes which will push up the cost of living. Councils are getting the blame for policies imposed by Whitehall.
“Conservatives believe that decent rubbish collections are a vital front-line council service to help protect the local environment and public health. We will provide funding for those councils that wish to introduce proper weekly rubbish collections, on top of comprehensive recycling services.
“We will make it easier for families to go green and increase recycling by working with households, not punishing them with heavy-handed bin taxes, bin cuts and bin fines.”
Source: Birmingham Mail
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