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Public 'support pay-as-you-throw' Public 'support pay-as-you-throw'
(about 6 hours later)
Almost two-thirds would support a "pay-as-you-throw" system of collecting household waste, according to a survey for the Local Government Association. Almost two-thirds of people would support a "pay-as-you-throw" system of collecting household waste, a Local Government Association survey suggests.
Over 1,000 people were asked if they favoured lower council tax and charges according to how much rubbish they left, with recyclers paying less. Its poll of 1,028 people found 64% in favour of lower council tax and charges according to how much rubbish they left, with recyclers paying less.
It found 64% in favour and 23% against, including 15% strongly opposed. The LGA has set out three schemes to cut waste and encourage more recycling.
The LGA claims this shows support for changing the law to allow English and Welsh councils introduce waste charges. It has insisted the "pay-as-you-throw" proposals would not be a stealth tax to raise extra cash for councils.
The LGA says the survey shows support for changing the law to allow English and Welsh councils to introduce waste charges.
The three schemes outlined by the association are:
  • Householders buy different sized pre-paid rubbish sacks, which it says would be practical in urban areas
  • Wheelie bins fitted with microchips allowing rubbish to be weighed as it is dumped into the refuse truck
  • Homes choose the size of their wheelie bin and are charged accordingly
The LGA said any scheme would be dependent on local circumstances and would have to be supported by residents.
Cllr Paul Bettison, chairman of the LGA's environment board, said: "If councils introduce save-as-you-throw schemes, it will be to promote recycling, not generate extra cash through an extra stealth tax.
"There is now strong public support for schemes that reward people for recycling and councils should be given the power to introduce these where it is appropriate to do so."
The IPSOS Mori poll for the LGA also found 23% of those surveyed were against waste charges, with 15% strongly opposed.
The association added that schemes elsewhere in Europe where households pay by weight, volume, or use pre-paid sacks have led to dramatic reductions in household waste and much higher recycling rates.The association added that schemes elsewhere in Europe where households pay by weight, volume, or use pre-paid sacks have led to dramatic reductions in household waste and much higher recycling rates.
It says if the law is changed to allow "pay-as-you-throw", it will be used to promote recycling and not as a stealth tax to generate extra cash. The LGA also warned that if local authorities failed to act to cut the use of landfill, councils and council taxpayers could face EU fines of up to £3bn over the next four years.
The LGA also warns if councils fail to act to cut the use of landfill, they could face EU fines of up to £3bn over the next four years.
The IPSOS Mori poll was conducted in July.