Fly-tipping threat 'ignored'
Saturday, 17 November 2007 12:00 AM
The government is ignoring the Environment Agency's (EA) concerns about the impact its 'pay-as-you-throw' proposals will have on fly-tipping, it has emerged.
Information obtained by the Conservative party under the Freedom of Information Act reveals the EA's reservations about the policy, which underwent a consultation process over the summer.
The government insists it has won "strong support" for the idea, which will see households pay for excessive waste but reimbursed for recycling.
But the EA's response voices doubts about the negative effect it could have on the environment.
It expresses fears that the proposals will result in "significant increases in fly-tipping" and that "increased costs could impact disproportionately on already disadvantaged communities and individuals".
"Even the government's own green watchdog is now warning that bin taxes will harm the environment," Conservative shadow local government secretary Eric Pickles said.
"Whether they can't pay or won't pay, many irresponsible people will dump instead, creating a fly-tipping nightmare.
"This destroys the supposed environmental case for these hated new taxes, and makes a mockery of ministers using the cover of climate change to slip them through."
The Countryside Alliance has also spoken out against pay-as-you-throw, claiming the problem is already at "epidemic levels" and will lead to increases in many different kinds of illegal waste disposal.
According to Conservative figures fly-tipping has increased by 186 per cent in the last three years.
Last week up to five councils were invited to participate in pilot schemes to measure the effectiveness of the proposal.
Waste and recycling minister Joan Ruddock told parliament: "The case for reducing the amount of waste we all produce is clear - it is damaging the environment and contributing to climate change.
"Furthermore it makes no financial sense to keep dumping it into holes in the ground.
"We need to work out the best way to achieve this. Local authorities have asked for incentive schemes as one of their options."
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