The reluctant councils who won't trial pay-as-you-throw bin taxes

Council chiefs still smarting from poor results in local elections over fortnightly rubbish collections are proving reluctant to start taxing voters to take their rubbish away.

The charges will fine those who put out more than a set amount of refuse. But critics have predicted they will cost householders three times the official estimate of £50 a year.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed yesterday that there have been no volunteers for the five trial runs of the charges due to start next spring.

The 14 councils which ministers boasted had 'made inquiries' amounted to 'casual phone calls'.

Expensive: Plans to introduce bin taxes faced another set-back

Pledge: Eric Pickles

Defra said formal attempts to find local authorities to run the pilots will not begin until shortly before laws to pave the way for bin taxes go onto the statute book in the autumn.

Tory local government spokesman Eric Pickles said: 'It is outrageous that Labour is using taxpayers' cash to bully and cajole councils into signing up to bin taxes.

We know they are planning for bin taxes to hit two in three homes across the country.

'It's time for councillors to listen to the public and stand up to the Government's bin bullies.'

Earlier, the Government dismissed claims that householders could face a 'bin tax' of up to £1,000-a-year.

Waste and recycling minister Joan Ruddock insisted there was 'absolutely no truth' in the stories and suggested £50-a-year was likely to be a more realistic figure.

She also told MPs that the move would be 'revenue-neutral' for councils, as any money collected under the scheme would be returned to residents.

Labour's Linda Riordan (Halifax) raised concerns about the possibility of charges for refuse collection at question time.

'Many of my constituents are worried about stories they have been told that their families could face huge bills for rubbish collection.

'Will the minister tell us what plans the Government have for allowing local councils to charge for waste collection?' she demanded.

Ms Ruddock said: 'I'm not surprised that your constituents have been worried about the possibility of huge charges.

'There have been scare stories in the tabloid press, fuelled by spokespersons from the Conservative Party, that there could be charges as high as £1,000 a year.
"There is absolutely no truth in these stories.'

Up to five local authorities would be allowed to pilot 'incentive' schemes next year - allowing councils to rebate those recycling most and charge those recycling least.

'From the continental experience we know that about £50-a-year would be the right level for an incentive to influence behaviour.'

To Tory laughter, she added: 'This is not akin to a tax. It's technically a tax but .... it does not behave like a tax. Any money that is collected by the local authority is returned to the residents.

'There is no revenue for the local authority. There is no revenue for the council in these schemes. They are revenue-neutral.

'Local authorities, primarily Conservative ones, have sought these schemes and in polls the public say they would be fair.'