Householders wary of new landfill tax

The UK Government has raised the landfill tax by eight pounds to thirty two pounds for every tonne. In the next thirty six months the landfill tax is expected to be increased to close to fifty pounds for every tonne. This could end up costing Welsh councils over ten million pounds.

Consumer groups are wary that the landfill tax could end up being borne by the householders when the council decides to impose fines on them for not recycling. The consumer groups are also worried that the tax penalty would persuade the councils to cut down on the frequency of waste collections or impose a fee for waste collection.

Mark Wallace from the Taxpayers Alliance disclosed that majority of the members of the public see the taxes not being imposed because of the concern for the environment but just as a means of raising money. He also appealed to the councils to make the recycling schemes easy to increase cooperation from the residents.

David Davies the Conservative Member of Parliament for Monmouth expressed fears that the tax was becoming a cash cow for the government which was not adequately performing the task of providing recycling facilities and services.

Among the best performing councils in Wales in recycling and composting include Ceredigion which recycles forty five per cent of its waste. Wrexham manages to recycle forty three per cent of its waste while Powys and Conwy both manage to recycle forty one per cent of their waste.

Among the worst performing are Cardiff, Blaenau Gwent, Denbighshire and Merthyr Tydfil.