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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Rubbish charging given go-ahead | Rubbish charging given go-ahead |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Councils in England are to be given the power to introduce pilot schemes to charge households according to the amount of rubbish they throw away. | Councils in England are to be given the power to introduce pilot schemes to charge households according to the amount of rubbish they throw away. |
| It comes as MPs warn the UK could face fines of up to £180m a year from the European Commission if it does not cut the amount of waste dumped in landfill. | It comes as MPs warn the UK could face fines of up to £180m a year from the European Commission if it does not cut the amount of waste dumped in landfill. |
| Last week, plans for a pay-as-you-throw rubbish charge were apparently shelved. | Last week, plans for a pay-as-you-throw rubbish charge were apparently shelved. |
| Conservatives accused the government of | |
| a U-turn over plans and said such schemes will lead to more fly-tipping. | |
| The shadow communities secretary Eric Pickles said: "What we should be doing is increasing recycling. We can do that without doing it through a bin tax." | The shadow communities secretary Eric Pickles said: "What we should be doing is increasing recycling. We can do that without doing it through a bin tax." |
| The scheme would lead to a surge in fly-tipping, people dumping their waste in neighbours' gardens and more back garden bonfires, he said. | The scheme would lead to a surge in fly-tipping, people dumping their waste in neighbours' gardens and more back garden bonfires, he said. |
| New solutions | New solutions |
| Last week, it was reported that Defra had been all set to announce the scheme could go ahead, but Downing Street intervened and Gordon Brown was reported to have been unenthusiastic. | Last week, it was reported that Defra had been all set to announce the scheme could go ahead, but Downing Street intervened and Gordon Brown was reported to have been unenthusiastic. |
| Waste minister Joan Ruddock dismissed Conservative accusations that the government was confused. | Waste minister Joan Ruddock dismissed Conservative accusations that the government was confused. |
| "We all know we can't go on putting rubbish in holes in the ground. We need to find new ways and these sorts of schemes and incentives may be part of that." | "We all know we can't go on putting rubbish in holes in the ground. We need to find new ways and these sorts of schemes and incentives may be part of that." |
| Meanwhile, the Commons public accounts committee has claimed ministers have been too slow to react to a 1999 EU directive on waste. | Meanwhile, the Commons public accounts committee has claimed ministers have been too slow to react to a 1999 EU directive on waste. |
| It says there is a "significant risk" that new composting plants and rubbish incinerators will not be up and running in time to meet its targets. | It says there is a "significant risk" that new composting plants and rubbish incinerators will not be up and running in time to meet its targets. |
| PAC chair Edward Leigh urged ministers to promote large-scale recycling. | PAC chair Edward Leigh urged ministers to promote large-scale recycling. |
| Under the EU directive, the UK must reduce the amount of biodegradable waste going into landfill from the 18.1m tonnes dumped in 2003/4 to 13.7m tonnes in 2010, 9.2m in 2013 and 6.3m in 2020. | Under the EU directive, the UK must reduce the amount of biodegradable waste going into landfill from the 18.1m tonnes dumped in 2003/4 to 13.7m tonnes in 2010, 9.2m in 2013 and 6.3m in 2020. |
| The committee said this meant not only encouraging householders to recycle and compost more of their rubbish, but also there was a need for new energy from waste power plants capable of processing up to 15m tonnes each year. | The committee said this meant not only encouraging householders to recycle and compost more of their rubbish, but also there was a need for new energy from waste power plants capable of processing up to 15m tonnes each year. |
| However, MPs conceded the development of waste plants tended to be "unpopular" with the public and entail construction delays because of large scale protests from locals opposed to schemes. | However, MPs conceded the development of waste plants tended to be "unpopular" with the public and entail construction delays because of large scale protests from locals opposed to schemes. |
| Mr Leigh said it was time for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to "take the tough decisions and practical steps" needed to get more people recycling. | Mr Leigh said it was time for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to "take the tough decisions and practical steps" needed to get more people recycling. |
| How UK is faring against EU targets | How UK is faring against EU targets |
| Defra knew about the EU targets long before 1999 but has been slow to react, taking no effective action before 2003, his committee's report said. | Defra knew about the EU targets long before 1999 but has been slow to react, taking no effective action before 2003, his committee's report said. |
| The amount of biodegradable waste dumped in English landfill sites was cut by 2.3m tonnes to 12.4m tonnes between 2003/4 and 2005/6, requiring a further reduction of 4.9m tonnes to comply with the 2013 maximum allowance set by the EU. | The amount of biodegradable waste dumped in English landfill sites was cut by 2.3m tonnes to 12.4m tonnes between 2003/4 and 2005/6, requiring a further reduction of 4.9m tonnes to comply with the 2013 maximum allowance set by the EU. |
| Biodegradable materials dumped in landfill sites, such as food, vegetation and paper, generate methane and other emissions to the soil that can be harmful to health. | Biodegradable materials dumped in landfill sites, such as food, vegetation and paper, generate methane and other emissions to the soil that can be harmful to health. |
| If the UK misses these targets, taxpayers will have to stump up the money to pay a huge fine to the European Commission Edward LeighChairmanPublic Accounts Committee | If the UK misses these targets, taxpayers will have to stump up the money to pay a huge fine to the European Commission Edward LeighChairmanPublic Accounts Committee |
| Some 3% of the UK's climate change emissions come from methane in landfill. | Some 3% of the UK's climate change emissions come from methane in landfill. |
| The MPs noted that 57% of the public "are already committed recyclers but householders can find it confusing to determine what items should be put in each bin". | The MPs noted that 57% of the public "are already committed recyclers but householders can find it confusing to determine what items should be put in each bin". |
| Mr Leigh said: "The UK has traditionally got rid of its rubbish by pouring large quantities of it into holes in the ground. | Mr Leigh said: "The UK has traditionally got rid of its rubbish by pouring large quantities of it into holes in the ground. |
| "Faced with the 1999 EU Directive limiting the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfill, Defra issued no fewer than four vaguely-worded consultation papers and strategies on waste management - but did little else. | "Faced with the 1999 EU Directive limiting the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfill, Defra issued no fewer than four vaguely-worded consultation papers and strategies on waste management - but did little else. |
| "If the UK misses these targets, taxpayers will have to stump up the money to pay a huge fine to the European Commission. | "If the UK misses these targets, taxpayers will have to stump up the money to pay a huge fine to the European Commission. |
| Alternative? | Alternative? |
| "The department must now take the tough decisions and practical steps needed to promote large-scale recycling. | "The department must now take the tough decisions and practical steps needed to promote large-scale recycling. |
| "This will involve making it clear who is going to pay for the initiatives outlined in its latest strategy in May 2007. | "This will involve making it clear who is going to pay for the initiatives outlined in its latest strategy in May 2007. |
| "It will involve giving members of the public clear guidance on what they can and cannot put into their recycling bins. | "It will involve giving members of the public clear guidance on what they can and cannot put into their recycling bins. |
| "Waste treatment centres around the country will be a critical factor in reducing the UK's r | "Waste treatment centres around the country will be a critical factor in reducing the UK's r |
UK WASTE TARGETSEU biodegradable municipal waste maximumsCountry 2003-4 actual amount (m tonnes) Landfill max 2010 Landfill max 2013 Landfill max2020 England 14.7 11.2 7.5 5.2 Scotland 1.8 1.3 0.9 0.6 Wales 0.9 0.7 0.5 0.3 N Ireland 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.2 Total 18.1 13.7 9.2 6.3 Source: National Audit Office Return to story | UK WASTE TARGETSEU biodegradable municipal waste maximumsCountry 2003-4 actual amount (m tonnes) Landfill max 2010 Landfill max 2013 Landfill max2020 England 14.7 11.2 7.5 5.2 Scotland 1.8 1.3 0.9 0.6 Wales 0.9 0.7 0.5 0.3 N Ireland 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.2 Total 18.1 13.7 9.2 6.3 Source: National Audit Office Return to story |