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| Bins charges decision 'delayed' | Bins charges decision 'delayed' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A decision on introducing controversial "pay as you throw" charges for rubbish has been delayed, the BBC understands. | A decision on introducing controversial "pay as you throw" charges for rubbish has been delayed, the BBC understands. |
| Defra was expected to announce as early as Thursday it would go ahead with bin charges - a document outlining the plans has been seen by the BBC. | Defra was expected to announce as early as Thursday it would go ahead with bin charges - a document outlining the plans has been seen by the BBC. |
| But Defra said no final decisions had been made on the charges, which were aimed at boosting recycling rates. | But Defra said no final decisions had been made on the charges, which were aimed at boosting recycling rates. |
| The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said one source had suggested Downing Street had poured cold water on the idea. | The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said one source had suggested Downing Street had poured cold water on the idea. |
| She said Defra had been all set to go ahead with the announcement and had prepared the text, but it appeared there was a split between opinion in Defra and Downing Street. | |
| Conservative warning | |
| The document stated that the government was committed to changing the law to enable councils to charge people for their waste as an incentive to encourage them to recycle. | |
| But on Wednesday Defra said there would be no announcement and that it had reached no final decisions. A Downing Street spokesman would not comment on the timing of ministerial announcements. | |
| In May the then environment secretary David Miliband announced proposals that English councils be allowed to bring in charges, to make householders who were not recycling pay more than those who did. | |
| But the Conservatives said it would lead to a huge increase in fly-tipping and backyard burning. |