Good Riddance To Bad Rubbish Schemes?

Local councils will no longer have the option of charging us for the amount of rubbish we put out for collection.

Instead, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has backed opt-in reward schemes as the best way to encourage us to recycle more.

An incentive scheme run by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead which encouraged people to recycle more by offering vouchers from M&S and Coffee Republic, has succeeded in increasing recycling rates by 35 per cent.

Most councils have steered clear of the so-called ‘pay as you throw’ schemes anyway, fearing a backlash from angry residents.

Councils around the country had already upset local communities by looking through residents’ rubbish bags and bins without telling them or asking their permission – the councils defended their actions as being necessary waste audits, but many people saw it as snooping.

When the prospect of fitting wheelie bins with microchips and implementing ‘pay as you throw’ schemes were raised, people expressed fears of an increase in fly-tipping.

In an interview for BBC Radio 4 yesterday, Mr Pickles said: "You should treat people with respect instead of having a bunch of bin inspectors, bin police."

Ultimately, the coalition says that it aims for the UK to be a zero-waste country.

Do you agree with Mr Pickles that the best way to achieve this is by using the carrot rather than the stick? Or do you think that people need the threat of fines to increase recycling rates?

In March 2010, Bristol City Council applied to DEFRA to trial a reward scheme which would see volunteers having their rubbish weighed, with the opportunity to receive cash payments if they are able to reduce their waste.