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Waste charge 'should be ditched' Waste charge 'should be ditched'
(about 1 hour later)
Neighbourhoods should be rewarded with community support officers or revamped parks if they reduce the amount of rubbish they throw out, a report says.Neighbourhoods should be rewarded with community support officers or revamped parks if they reduce the amount of rubbish they throw out, a report says.
Giving people cash incentives to change behaviour is more likely to work than penalising them with charges, the New Local Government Network pamphlet says.Giving people cash incentives to change behaviour is more likely to work than penalising them with charges, the New Local Government Network pamphlet says.
Instead, residents would have a choice to spend their reward on local projects for their community, the NLGN suggests.Instead, residents would have a choice to spend their reward on local projects for their community, the NLGN suggests.
Ministers are consulting on whether charging will encourage more recycling.Ministers are consulting on whether charging will encourage more recycling.
In May, the then Environment Secretary David Miliband said he wanted councils to make people who fail to recycle household rubbish pay more than those who do.In May, the then Environment Secretary David Miliband said he wanted councils to make people who fail to recycle household rubbish pay more than those who do.
'Get communities involved''Get communities involved'
But his controversial plan for English councils to give cash "rewards" of about £30 a year to "green" families, while non-recyclers would have to pay an extra £30, was unpopular with the public.But his controversial plan for English councils to give cash "rewards" of about £30 a year to "green" families, while non-recyclers would have to pay an extra £30, was unpopular with the public.
In its report, "How can we refuse? Tackling the waste challenge", the independent think-tank NLGN says it does not believe that such small financial inducements will work.In its report, "How can we refuse? Tackling the waste challenge", the independent think-tank NLGN says it does not believe that such small financial inducements will work.
If an entire neighbourhood can reduce the amount of waste they throw out as a total, they should be financially rewarded with money for the local area SpokesmanNew Local Government Network If an entire neighbourhood can reduce the amount of waste they throw out as a total, they should be financially rewarded with money for the local area James HulmeNew Local Government Network
Instead, the pamphlet, written by Anthony Brand, argues that councils should set up waste reduction goals with whole neighbourhoods rewarded if they reduce the amount of non-recyclable rubbish they generate.Instead, the pamphlet, written by Anthony Brand, argues that councils should set up waste reduction goals with whole neighbourhoods rewarded if they reduce the amount of non-recyclable rubbish they generate.
An NLGN spokesman said: "Charging for rubbish will not give people enough of an incentive to reduce the amount they throw out. James Hulme, NLGN's head of communications, said: "Charging for rubbish will not give people enough of an incentive to reduce the amount they throw out.
"We calculate that giving individuals a small financial reward of about £30 a year for reducing the amount of non-recyclable waste they throw out is not enough to change people's behaviour."We calculate that giving individuals a small financial reward of about £30 a year for reducing the amount of non-recyclable waste they throw out is not enough to change people's behaviour.
"But if an entire neighbourhood can reduce the amount of waste they throw out as a total, they should be financially rewarded with money for the local area."But if an entire neighbourhood can reduce the amount of waste they throw out as a total, they should be financially rewarded with money for the local area.
"For example, if a neighbourhood of 200 houses reduced their waste by 50% over a year, that could mean a £5,000 reward."For example, if a neighbourhood of 200 houses reduced their waste by 50% over a year, that could mean a £5,000 reward.
"This could be spent on an extra community support officer or could help a local park.""This could be spent on an extra community support officer or could help a local park."
'Pay-as-you-throw''Pay-as-you-throw'
The spokesman said it would be up to individual authorities to decide the size of the incentive, and councils would have to agree with residents what the prize should be spent on. Mr Hulme said it would be up to individual authorities to decide the size of the incentive, and councils would have to agree with residents what the prize should be spent on.
"You couldn't just spend it on having a big party," the spokesman said. "You couldn't just spend it on having a big party," he said.
The NGLN report will be submitted as part of a government consultation on charging for waste and incentives for recycling by households.The NGLN report will be submitted as part of a government consultation on charging for waste and incentives for recycling by households.
A survey by the Local Government Association last month suggested that almost two-thirds of people would support a "pay-as-you-throw" system of collecting household waste.A survey by the Local Government Association last month suggested that almost two-thirds of people would support a "pay-as-you-throw" system of collecting household waste.
'Fly-tipping fears''Fly-tipping fears'
The LGA has detailed three possible schemes for England and Wales - but the Conservatives said these would not bring lower council tax bills and fly-tipping would increase.The LGA has detailed three possible schemes for England and Wales - but the Conservatives said these would not bring lower council tax bills and fly-tipping would increase.
In 2004-5, almost 30m tonnes of waste was collected from households in the UK, with more than two thirds of this diverted to landfill.In 2004-5, almost 30m tonnes of waste was collected from households in the UK, with more than two thirds of this diverted to landfill.
The government wants to reduce household waste from over 22.2m tonnes in 2000 to 15.8m tonnes in 2010. It aims to make a further reduction to 12.2m tonnes in 2020 - equivalent to a reduction of 40% per person.The government wants to reduce household waste from over 22.2m tonnes in 2000 to 15.8m tonnes in 2010. It aims to make a further reduction to 12.2m tonnes in 2020 - equivalent to a reduction of 40% per person.