Homeowners 'face tax on rubbish'

Ck · 13-06-2006, 16:33

Sorry, I can't provide a link to the report, it won't allow it so I've had to copy paste it in full.

Householders could be charged according to the amount of rubbish collected from their homes under plans being considered by the Government's adviser on council tax reform.

Sir Michael Lyons, who is conducting an inquiry into the future of the controversial tax, told The Times he was looking at a range of user charges, including environmental taxes.

They would be paid on top of the council tax in order to make the cost of services more visible, the paper reported.

The plans could allow councils to charge residents for the amount of waste they produce, raising the prospect of bags of waste being weighed by collectors.

Other possibilities include charging less to greener households and those who separate their waste.

Sir Michael said: "I am clear that if people want more services, want to tackle difficult problems like congestion, environmental sustainability and water quality... you can't just tackle those problems and say you don't want to pay more tax."

Sir Michael went on to say he was studying European countries which already operate charges for waste, ranging between 25p and 50p a kilo.

His comments come as local authorities are trying to hit ambitious Government targets for recycling household waste.

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "Sir Michael will be giving his final report to ministers at the end of the year and ministers will consider all his proposals."

First of all, I don't quite understand it, on one hand the idea seems to have come from the people behind the council tax reform and then later it says the fee will be paid on top of any council tax. :?

Anyway, whilst it may encourage some people to recycle I think most will look to ways of saving money by either burning rubbish (that'll be my choice of action) which could end up being more environmentally costly or simply dumping rubbish in the streets, which would be just luvverly!

**Earl** · 13-06-2006, 20:32

What a disgrace, refuse collection is all I get for my council tax.

If only there was a councillor who was a member of this forum to give us their side of the story. :evil:

**A_B** · 13-06-2006, 23:28

We only have one rubbish bin here in France (less than half the size of those wheelie bins in the UK) - so we're forced to recycle.

I can see 'fly tipping' becoming a problem in the UK if they tax you on your rubbish (I know I wouldn't pay extra

). It really is a change to have to think about recycling - If they are gonna force you to do it - they have to make it really convenient for you - like not drive miles to the nearest recycle bins -we have them all over - so you don't have to go out of your way to do it yourself (we have one 'food bin' collection a week - which is used for the vineyards etc) - other than that.....we have to recycle it ourselves....I'm used to it now - but visitors get confused with the 3 bins in the kitchen and have to ask which bin something goes in.

'tis simple - if an animal can eat it - it goes in the 'eat bin' - if it's cardboard, plastic or glass - the recycle bin - anything else (fag butts, sanitary towels and condoms

) - goes in the rubbish.

The eat bin and the rubbish bin are then put out for the bin people - and the recyclables are bagged and put in the garage for a year until you can't move and have to go around all the small villages at night and sneak it into their bins.