Archived press release

Rubbish bag tax - Friends of the Earth comment

13 June 2006

Sir Michael Lyons, acting chairman of the Audit Commission, may allow councils to charge householders for non - recyclable domestic waste as part of his enquiry into local Government finance, it was reported today.

Friends of the Earth Reduce Resource Use Campaigner, Dr Michael Warhurst said:

"Urgent action is needed to cut the 30 million tonnes of waste produced in England and Wales each year and improve our appalling recycling rates. Charging for non recyclable waste is part of the solution, together with good doorstep recycling and composting schemes.

Charging for the amount of rubbish thrown away will encourage people to start treating rubbish collection services like electricity, gas and the other utilities. Householders can then save money by cutting their waste."

Friends of the Earth also called for waste charging schemes to be implemented sensibly and sensitively so they are fair to large and low-income families.

The US and many other European countries have already introduced waste charging schemes with impressive results - in some areas reducing the amount of rubbish that people throw out to below 150 kg per person per year (compared to the current UK average of 400kg per person per year) and increasing the recycling and composting rates in participating areas by 30-40 percent (compared to 23% in England).

For further information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

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Archived press release

Rubbish bag tax - Friends of the Earth comment

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