Dispute looms between councils and ministers over recycling powers

A dispute is looming between councils and ministers over powers to enforce recycling, following publication of the government’s waste review.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said the review – part of the Government’s efforts to move to a zero waste economy – showed it was “time to consign the failed policies of unfair bin taxes, bin fines and bin cuts to the dustbin of history”.

He added: “Both Whitehall and the town hall need to raise their game to deliver more frequent and better rubbish and recycling collections in return.”

But the Local Government Association said councils needed powers to deal with the minority of people who ignore or disrupt recycling.

Its environment board chair, Gary Porter, said: “As a last resort councils also need effective, proportionate powers to take action against households or businesses which persistently or wilfully damage the local environment.

“We will work with Defra to ensure that adequate deterrents are available to tackle the small number of people who undermine the good work of the rest of us.”

The review was launched at the Chartered Institute of Waste Management conference by Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman, who said the Government did not want to penalise “hard-working households who make minor mistakes by putting bins out on the wrong day or leaving a plastic tub in the wrong recycling box”.

But she admitted the UK lagged behind the rest of Europe, and called for a “first-class zero-waste economy [that can] unlock the real value in the goods that people no longer want”.

Following the review the Government will consult next year on introducing a landfill restriction on wood waste, and review the introduction of landfill bans on other materials, such as metals, textiles and biodegradable waste.

It will also examine offering incentives for householders to recycle and voluntary responsibility deals focussing on the hospitality, paper, direct mail, textiles, and construction industries.

Cllr Porter said: “Retailers, manufacturers and caterers must do more to bring down the 23m tonnes of waste generated each year.

“The volume of packaging waste has not changed in the last five years and every year we throw out more than 5m tonnes of edible food. That’s not good enough and we are pleased to see measures announced in the review to tackle waste at its source.”

Penalties will be introduced to allow for the seizure of vehicles used in fly-tipping and possibly to require offenders to clear away materials they have dumped.

The Coalition Agreement committed the Government to “work towards a zero waste economy and encourage councils to pay people to recycle and reduce littering” and “measures to promote a huge increase in energy from waste through anaerobic digestion”.