A promise by Conservatives to scrap fortnightly bin collections may be scuppered after a bitter turf war at Whitehall, according to a report by the Daily Mail. Communities secretary Eric Pickles revealed last night that he wants to encourage councils to move back to weekly rounds.
The new regimes have been branded “unhygienic” by Pickles, but environment secretary Caroline Spelman says she is under pressure to hit strict EU recycling targets. The Treasury is also largely against a move back, as they believe more frequent bin collections could put extra pressure on already cash-strapped councils.
Mr Pickles led the campaign against the growing trend towards fortnightly bin collections and has made the issue a priority since becoming part of the cabinet. Earlier this month he told the Audit Commission to revise the advice to councils as he said the system would encourage flies.
Defra, who must ensure that Britain meets its tough EU recycling targets, has urged Mrs Spelman to continue with the coalition’s green agenda. Pickles does not have the power to act without support from both individual councils and the environment secretary.
Mr Pickles said that a populist movement opposes many policies in the government’s green agenda, but Defra claims the MP is making a career out of slamming the environmental policies. Both Spelman and Pickles yesterday claimed there were no differences in their thinking on green issues as they joined to announce an axing a Labour’s controversial bin tax plans.
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