Coalition throws out bin fines

Fines for fly-tipping or failing to recycle are to be scaled back or scrapped altogether under controversial new waste management plans being worked on by the government. 

Environment minister Caroline Spelman is expected to announce the changes next month, meaning that those who repeatedly fail to put their rubbish out on the right day or recycle incorrectly will no longer receive fixed-penalty notices.

Meanwhile, councils will be prevented from levying fines for fly-tipping for all but the worst offences.

Local government minister Bob Neill and environment minister Lord Henley have also warned against councils "charging by the back door" for waste services through schemes that force taxpayers to buy 'official' rubbish sacks from town halls.

The coalition promised to scrap waste charges last year, along with a Labour-introduced 'pay as you throw' pilot scheme, claiming that bin charging would actually increase fly-tipping and put additional costs on residents already feeling the pinch.

However, green groups have today slammed the proposed changes, arguing that they will force up council bills and make it harder for the UK to meet binding EU rcycling targets.

Michael Warhurst, Friends of the Earth's senior waste campaigner, called the move "bad news for council tax payers", insisting that banning bin charges would force people who regularly recycle to pay for those who do not.

"Households shouldn't be fined for minor bin rule infringements, but councils should be able to take action against people who persistently fail to recycle," Warhurst said.

"Rather than grabbing a few headlines, ministers should focus on fulfilling their pledge to go 'further and faster' on recycling. If ministers are serious about tackling rubbish they must come up with a comprehensive plan to halve the nation's black-bag waste."

It also emerged that Neill and Henley had written to English councils warning that a "small minority" were charging for refuse collections.

The letter says that councils may charge for collecting garden waste or bulky items, but not for household refuse. Levying 'call-out' charges if waste collection teams are unable to pick up waste is also prohibited, the letter says.

It goes on to say that councils are not permitted to force residents into buying 'official' rubbish sacks. Some town halls are using 'official' bags to try to limit the number of bins or bags collected from each property.

"In short, councils cannot introduce 'backdoor' bin charging for mainstream waste collections or waste disposal," the letter says. "Such stealth taxes are not legal and are contrary to the policy direction of the new government."

The Local Government Association said that it was caught on the hop by the unexpected announcement and was unavailable for comment at time of press.

However, many councils are likely to be frustrated by the government's intervention given that they face rising landfill taxes and are tasked with meeting legally binding EU recycling targets over the coming years.