Ban on leaving bins to rot for a month

COUNCILS in England could be banned from moving to monthly rubbish collections, under plans to be unveiled this week.

The proposals would stop local authorities only emptying bins every third or fourth week and ensure that every household has a weekly food waste collection.

Councils would also be required to collect garden waste for free. Nearly twothirds of councils currently charge for this service. The free collections are expected to save householders more than £100million in charges on top of their council tax.

Ministers would also introduce minimum standards for rubbish and recycling collections.

There is concern that a lack of weekly food waste collections can lead to flies, maggots and bad smells.

Problems with waste collections are considered especially acute in urban areas.

The consultation comes as some councils in Scotland and Wales have moved to monthly rubbish collections.

The plans are also designed

RUBBISH: Household waste piles up in many urban areas

to end confusion about recycling by standardising bin colours across the country.

Under the proposals, council taxpayers would not foot the bill. Cash would be raised through reform of packaging regulations, which is expected to generate between £800million and £1billion.

Consultations are also set to be launched on plans to make packaging producers pay the full cost of dealing with their waste.

Views will also be sought on bringing in a “deposit return scheme” for drinks containers and a tax on plastic packaging which is not made from at least 30 per cent recycled materials.

The future of bin services has been a source of intense controversy in many parts of the country but the Conservatives have sought to portray the party as a champion of rubbish collection.

In 2010, then-local government secretary Eric Pickles said: “It’s a basic right for every English man and woman to be able to put the remnants of their chicken tikka masala in their bin without having to wait a fortnight for it to be collected”.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: “For too long, differing recycling systems have caused confusion for households up and down the country and food waste has been left lingering in bins for weeks.

“People want to recycle, and it is our responsibility to make it as simple as possible for them to do the right thing.

“That’s why we’ll invest to make domestic recycling less confusing by smoothing out differences between individual councils, and supporting comprehensive and frequent rubbish and recycling collections.

“We are committed to going further and faster to reduce, reuse, recycle and cut waste.”

‘Food waste has been left lingering in bins for weeks’