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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Weekly bin collection return 'to be dropped' | Weekly bin collection return 'to be dropped' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Plans to force councils in England to bring back weekly bin collections are to be dropped, the BBC understands. | Plans to force councils in England to bring back weekly bin collections are to be dropped, the BBC understands. |
| It is thought ministers were told the cost of the idea, which the Conservatives supported in opposition, would be around £100m a year. | It is thought ministers were told the cost of the idea, which the Conservatives supported in opposition, would be around £100m a year. |
| The government is instead focusing on ways of making England a "zero waste" country and boosting recycling. | |
| Councils' rights to fine people for minor domestic waste offences are also to be abolished. | |
| More than half of councils now collect domestic rubbish once a fortnight. | More than half of councils now collect domestic rubbish once a fortnight. |
| Some authorities say weekly collections work best, while others argue that the "alternate weekly collection" of different types of waste is the most effective way to increase recycling. | Some authorities say weekly collections work best, while others argue that the "alternate weekly collection" of different types of waste is the most effective way to increase recycling. |
| In opposition, the Conservatives said they would like to see weekly collections restored. | In opposition, the Conservatives said they would like to see weekly collections restored. |
| In 2008, the now Communities Secretary Eric Pickles told the Conservative party conference that weekly collections would "be back" if they gained power and that a "decent" refuse service was "vital" to help "protect the local environment and public health". | In 2008, the now Communities Secretary Eric Pickles told the Conservative party conference that weekly collections would "be back" if they gained power and that a "decent" refuse service was "vital" to help "protect the local environment and public health". |
| However, there was no commitment to weekly collections in the party's 2010 election manifesto. | However, there was no commitment to weekly collections in the party's 2010 election manifesto. |
| 'Basic service' | 'Basic service' |
| However, the BBC understands that once councils told ministers the £100m a year cost of reintroducing weekly bin collections would have to be met by central government, the idea was shelved. | However, the BBC understands that once councils told ministers the £100m a year cost of reintroducing weekly bin collections would have to be met by central government, the idea was shelved. |
| One council leader said it should be up to local authorities to decide how often rubbish was collected. | One council leader said it should be up to local authorities to decide how often rubbish was collected. |
| "At the end of the day without question it is better done on a local basis because each local area has a different set of circumstances," said Robert Nye, leader of Horsham District Council. "And there would not be a one-fits-all model." | "At the end of the day without question it is better done on a local basis because each local area has a different set of circumstances," said Robert Nye, leader of Horsham District Council. "And there would not be a one-fits-all model." |
| But lobbying group the Taxpayer's Alliance said most people expected their rubbish to be disposed of every week and that local authorities were being forced to meet waste targets set by the European Union rather than encourage residents to recycle in demand items. | But lobbying group the Taxpayer's Alliance said most people expected their rubbish to be disposed of every week and that local authorities were being forced to meet waste targets set by the European Union rather than encourage residents to recycle in demand items. |
| "With council tax nearly doubled over the last decade, there is no good reason why councils cannot provide the basic service which is collecting the bins every week," its chief executive Matthew Sinclair said. | "With council tax nearly doubled over the last decade, there is no good reason why councils cannot provide the basic service which is collecting the bins every week," its chief executive Matthew Sinclair said. |
| Outlining the government's waste strategy, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said the emphasis must be on ideas to help England be smarter with its waste. | |
| Proposals to be put out for consultation would see ministers work with the hospitality industry to try to reduce food waste and with the toy industry to cut excessive packaging. Tougher targets for recycling aluminium will be proposed and there will be a ban on wood going to landfill from homes or industry - with it being burned for energy instead. | Proposals to be put out for consultation would see ministers work with the hospitality industry to try to reduce food waste and with the toy industry to cut excessive packaging. Tougher targets for recycling aluminium will be proposed and there will be a ban on wood going to landfill from homes or industry - with it being burned for energy instead. |
| Penalties | Penalties |
| Householders currently can be punished for such actions as leaving dustbin lids open and using the wrong bin. | Householders currently can be punished for such actions as leaving dustbin lids open and using the wrong bin. |
| But ministers are promising to focus on the most serious rule-breakers, such as fly-tippers or those who allow vast amounts of rubbish to pile up. | But ministers are promising to focus on the most serious rule-breakers, such as fly-tippers or those who allow vast amounts of rubbish to pile up. |
| At the moment, people can be given a fixed-penalty notice of up to £110 if they repeatedly break the rules governing rubbish collections, such as recycling incorrectly or leaving waste out on the wrong day. A failure to pay can leave households facing court fines of £1,000. | |
| The government is to remove most of those powers from English councils following a promise last year to scrap them. Town halls will be able to issue fixed-penalty notices only to people who allow rubbish to pile up, or those who fly-tip. | |
| One environmental pressure group said weekly collections resulted in less recycling and the government should focus instead on halving black bag waste over the next ten years. | |
| "Ministers must stop trying to bully councils into running weekly bin rounds," Friends of the Earth's waste campaigner Julian Kirby said. "Fortnightly collections are hygienic and popular, provided they are accompanied by decent recycling and weekly food waste pick-ups too." | |
| Ministers have pledged to give more powers to local councils as part of their localism agenda but many council leaders have warned that substantial cuts in central funding over the next four years is forcing them to cut back on services. | Ministers have pledged to give more powers to local councils as part of their localism agenda but many council leaders have warned that substantial cuts in central funding over the next four years is forcing them to cut back on services. |