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Rubbish charging given go-ahead Rubbish charge pilots to go ahead
(about 4 hours 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. English councils are to be allowed to pilot plans to charge households according to rubbish they throw out.
A full roll-out of the pay-as-you-throw charge was dropped last week, apparently after No 10 opposition.
But powers to pilot the charges are in the Climate Change Bill, leading to Tory claims it had been "slipped out".
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. What we should be doing is increasing recycling. We can do that without doing it through a bin tax Eric PicklesShadow communities secretary
Conservatives accused the government of a U-turn over plans and said such schemes will lead to more fly-tipping. The Department for the Environment has said the controversial pay-as-you-throw charges could help reduce this.
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. Plans outlined earlier this year would be for households to get an annual discount of up to £50 or extra charges of up to £50 depending on rubbish not recycled.
New solutions Any rubbish charges would have to be revenue neutral overall - the total amount of money charged by councils would not be able to be increased.
Last week, it was reported that the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs had been all set to announce the scheme could go ahead, but Downing Street intervened and Prime Minister Gordon Brown was reported to have been unenthusiastic. 'Slipped out'
Waste minister Joan Ruddock dismissed Conservative accusations that the government was confused. And it was suggested that the number of people living in a property would be taken into account.
"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." Gordon Brown's official spokesman said the places where pilots would take place had not yet been decided, with councils to be asked to come forward with their proposals.
There have been concerns they will prove unpopular and hit larger, poor families.
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."
He said the scheme would lead to a surge in fly-tipping, people dumping their waste in neighbours' gardens and more back garden bonfires.
And shadow communities minister Alistair Burt, added: "This is a policy, remember, which was on the cards last week, then stopped by the prime minister at the end of the week, now back on again. Not launched as they intended to launch it but slipped out through the back end of the Climate Change Bill."
But 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," she said.
"And frankly trying to make mischief about when was this decision made, when was this decision taken, has there been a delay? No, we had to do work."
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.
How UK is faring against EU 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.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 chairman 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. READ THE REPORT class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/30_10_07_landfill.pdf">Reducing the Reliance on Landfill [416KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6591579.stm">What happens in Europe? class="" href="/1/hi/business/7068548.stm">Firms unaware of waste rules
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. name="text"> Householders needed to recycle and compost more of their rubbish, they said, and new energy had to be produced from waste power plants capable of processing up to 15m tonnes each year.
Mr Leigh said it was time for Defra to "take the tough decisions and practical steps" needed to get more people recycling. However, MPs conceded the development of waste plants tended to be "unpopular" with the public and met with large scale opposition.
class="bodl" href="#graphic">How UK is faring against EU targets 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.
Defra knew about the EU targets long before 1999 but has been slow to react, taking no effective action before 2003, the committee's report said. Defra said England was making "good progress" on reducing landfill waste.
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. "We are close to meeting our 2010 targets and working hard to ensure we meet the 2013 and 2020 targets too," a spokesman said.
But Defra defended its action, saying: "England is making good progress on reducing the waste we send to landfill.
"We are close to meeting our 2010 targets and working hard to ensure we meet the 2013 and 2020 targets too.
"These are challenging and we are not complacent, but we should not knock the progress we have made.""These are challenging and we are not complacent, but we should not knock the progress we have made."
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 Recycling 'confusing'
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, generated by biodegradable waste like food, vegetation and paper.
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. Committee chairman Edward 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. But he said after the 1999 EU Directive on landfill, Defra had done "little else" than publish four vague consultation papers and strategies.
"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," he said.
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.
"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 reliance on landfill."

UK WASTE TARGETS

EU biodegradable municipal waste maximums

Country 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 TARGETS

EU biodegradable municipal waste maximums

Country 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