Tipping point Householders hit by ‘stealth tax’ on rubbish

Families who pay to dispose of grass cuttings and hedge trimmings have been hit by a 37 per cent “stealth tax” rise since 2010, research suggests. Local authorities across England collected just under £110million in charges and fees for garden waste collection and taking away large items such as fridge freezers in 2010-11.

The figure rose to £148million in 2015-16 as councils were hit with cuts to government funding.

According to the Taxpayers’ Alliance, cemetery and cremation charges also rose from £240million to more than £290 million over the same period.