WASTE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER

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The UK government may be about to introduce a Rubbish Tax: What are the implications for you?

(READ THIS FIRST - Update 2011 - with the conservative led, liberal coalition the UK government has stated that no rubbish tax will be imposed on UK households.

In fact, it goes further, and penalties which had been imposed on rate-payers who failed to recycle, by some local councils using powers to do so which were introduced by the previous Labour government are being removed.)

Why would the government introduce a “Rubbish tax”?

A way has to be found by which recycling can be improved rapidly. Unless recycling rates do improve rapidly the UK will be fined massively by the EU for not complying with Community targets for the diversion of waste away from landfills. In Britain at present we only recycle, on average, a paltry 12% of our municipal waste. This is well below most of our European neighbours, and means that many more people continue to be affected by the nuisance caused by landfills, than need be. Besides many of these “waste” materials should be considered to be a resource - not rubbish, and there is no reason why they should not be, if recycled in a sustainable manner.

How would a rubbish tax affect me?

It is likely that all unsorted waste will eventually be weighed at the kerbside, before the waste is discharged into the refuse truck. A charge will then be levied on the householder for the unsorted material. Sorted materials are those materials which your Council collects separately, such as paper, glass, cardboard, other reusable materials and green waste.

Be prudent, sort your waste and the charge will not be great.

How much might it cost?

When the idea of a rubbish tax was first discussed in 2002 the cost suggested was about £5 a month.

At present (2002) most householders pay about £1 a week for their refuse collection, through the rates. This cost is due to rise rapidly because the rules for landfilling have been recently very greatly tightened, so the new tax is likely to be in addition to the existing charge on the rates. See “hazardous waste”.

How to avoid the Rubbish Tax?

Get recycling!

* The views expressed are those of the author.