Pay-as-you-dump... now No10 has plans to tax your rubbish bins

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.