Tories blast waste collection plans

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But Environment Minister Joan Ruddock denied reports that the Climate Change Bill currently going through Parliament would scrap the long-standing duty on local authorities to collect household waste.

An amendment to the Bill tabled by the Government will not change the law on waste collection, but clarify the position first set out by the Government in 2005, she said.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the provision could mean councils refusing to empty bins that are too far from a kerb, are not placed directly outside a gate or are put out on the street too early.

Shadow local government secretary Eric Pickles told the paper: "It is disgraceful that these new laws are being rushed through Parliament with no debate and no vote.

"People genuinely want to improve recycling and go green, but Labour's policy of bin cuts and bin taxes will fuel fly-tipping, backyard burning and harm public health.

"These changes will fuel the public backlash at the Government's rubbish policy. Under Gordon Brown, local residents are paying exorbitant levels of council tax, but are failing to get decent public services in return."

But Ms Ruddock said: "Local authorities still have a duty to collect household waste - this amendment does not change that.

"It merely clarifies the position that the Government set out in 2005 - that if local authorities explain to people in a formal notice how they should put their waste out for collection and they ignore this, the council is not obliged to collect it. This is no change to the situation now."