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Pay-as-you-dump... now No10 has plans to tax your rubbish bins
Last updated at 15:52pm on 09.02.07
Policy officials are studying schemes for pay-as-you-dump fees that could cost households £10 per month
A tax on household waste which will make families pay more for every bag of rubbish they leave out is on the cards, a Downing Street report reveals.
The Prime Minister's policy officials are studying schemes for pay-as-you-dump fees that would mean larger families with more waste paying more.
Experts say a charge of 25p to 50p per kilo of waste is possible, which would cost the average household £10 a month.
Mr Blair's interest in the idea is revealed in a 50-page report by the No 10 Strategy Unit.
It was distributed privately to Commons committee chairmen this week before an appearance by the Prime Minister in front of the liaison committee.
The Commons authorities refused to publish the report but it has been leaked. A section on the environment says that 'economic incentives' have been used in other countries to encourage consumers to go green.
It goes on: "Household waste charges are well established in the EU and the United States.
"Variable charging typically cuts waste volume by 10 per cent and increases recycling."
Consumers can have rubbish such as bottles and newspapers collected free if it is separated out for recycling schemes but charges are applied for waste destined for landfill sites.
The study cites the success of an Italian charging system in encouraging recycling. Before the charges, residents produced more than 400kg of waste each, of which about 150kg was recycled.
After the charges, waste was cut to 350kg of which 200kg was recycled.
At present, families have their rubbish collected as part of the services provided by their local authority in return for paying the council tax.
But flat rates mean that there is no incentive for consumers to cut their output or sift items for recycling.
Sir Michael Lyons, who was appointed to review local government finances for the Government, is a supporter of charges to change people's behaviour by cutting waste or congestion.
Many campaigners suspect that microchips being embedded into thousands of wheelie bins in some areas are there to be used in a waste charging scheme, because they could be used to identify every binload and send bills to householders.
The Strategy Unit study also highlights a possible toll scheme for longdistance lorries. It says German, Austrian and Swiss authorities have already brought in a truck toll using on-board computers to track journeys and issue a monthly invoice.
Carbon taxes on products that contribute to global warming are highlightedfor having reduced harmful emissions in Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
Tony Blair is planning for a new global treaty to tackle climate change and hopes to take up the role of 'international green envoy' after leaving Downing Street this summer.
A friend of Mr Blair said today that after the Prime Minister leaves office "he will want to carry on playing a key role on these discussions, either in a formal or informal role.".
The Prime Minister's hopes for a 'post-Bush' consensus on the issue emerged as a string of British ministers and experts prepared for a meeting with the US Congress in Washington next week.
His green economics expert Sir Nicholas Stern will attend the summit in a bid to bypass President Bush's refusal to sign up to a Kyotostyle treaty.
Mapping out Britain after Blair The 50-page Strategy Unit study provides a vivid glimpse of the Britain that Tony Blair hopes will be created long after his retirement.
It reveals the policy direction being mapped out by ministers for the cross-Whitehall review ordered by Mr Blair to report before he leaves No 10.
The Prime Minister set up a series of Cabinet level discussion groups in September with a brief of learning lessons from Labour's 10 years in power and suggesting reforms for the next decade.
POLICE
Police reforms are clearly on the agenda - with the document saying: "Increased resources for police have not delivered a step change in productivity."
CRIME
The study warns: Reoffending rates are high... without action, upward pressure on prison numbers will continue."
It urges reform for the law and order system, saying governance and accountability is "weaker than in some public service areas".
Drug vaccination to cure addictions to heroin and crack are listed, with ID cards and facial recognition devices as new high-tech measures.
CHOICE
Mr Blair's agenda for improving choice in public services gets a strong push. A survey showed more people want faster response times and weekend work than want services to be "available to all who need them".
JOBS
Manufacturing jobs will continue to decline, it predicts. Schools and colleges need to train more people skilled in computing, finances, and care services.
Reader views (4)
For heavens sake. The only tangible benefit for most council tax payers is education and Waste management. Most are now paying over a £1000.00. As "Rate" payers the Police and Water used to be included in Local Council Bills. Having sold off water, why not sell off the police.
How long before we are paying for Council employees who provide absolutely nothing.
- Michael Murphy, brightlingsea england
So everyone will start fly tipping and dumping it in front of your neighbours. Oh yes and its really going to work when you have flats. Come off it Blair yer havin a larf!
- James, london
"ID cards and facial recognition devices as new high-tech measures."
What a bunch we have governing us!
Facial recognition systems have been tried and have failed, while ID cards do nothing to prevent crime, still less terrorism - yet these things cost us taxpayers loads.
- Gb, London, UK
New Labour under Tony's management keen to put every efforts to make people lives miserable and made them to pay for being ALIVE. I don't wonder tomorrow we see a TAX on our breathing air.
- Gull, London
