Tories make weekly bin collection pledge over bins
Councils will be forced to continue emptying dustbins once a week rather than moving to fortnightly collections if the Conservatives win the next election.
Shadow Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles pledged to end Labour’s policy of “bin cuts”, which he said was harming public health.
He said the Conservatives would scrap “unelected quangos” and use the money saved to improve rubbish collections and recycling.
Government plans to allow councils to impose a special tax on households failing to recycle will be scrapped.
Mr Pickles promised to champion green incentives – from trials for free green compost bins andwater butts to the ‘Recyclebank’ scheme, used in America, where householders are paid for recycling.
New powers will be given to councils to introduce local council tax cuts for recycling and green behaviour.
Mr Pickles added: “Despite soaring levels of council tax, local residents are being hit by cuts to collections, over-zealous use of bin fines and the prospect of expensive new bin taxes which will push up the cost of living. Councils are getting the blame for policies imposed by Whitehall.
“Conservatives believe that decent rubbish collections are a vital front-line council service to help protect the local environment and public health. We reject Labour’s approach of state bullying, cutting services and higher taxes. We will provide funding for those councils that wish to introduce proper weekly rubbish collections, on top of comprehensive recycling services.
“We will make it easier for families to go green and increase recycling by working with households, not punishing them with heavy-handed bin taxes, bin cuts and bin fines.”
