Posted on 05/23/2007 7:53:58 PM PDT by blam
Microchips in dustbins spy on three million
By Brendan Carlin, Political Correspondent
Last Updated: 2:20am BST 24/05/2007
More than three million households in Britain have rubbish bins equipped with "waste stealth tax" technology, it was claimed last night.
The microchips could be used to charge households for the amount of non-recyclable waste produced
Ahead of today's publication of the Government's national waste strategy, a survey revealed that 68 town halls have spent millions of pounds buying bins with microchips.
The figure is double previous estimates and will fuel fears that Labour has been moving secretly towards a European-style "bin tax".
The microchips, together with reading equipment which could be installed in refuse lorries, would allow councils to weigh each household's rubbish. The system could eventually be used to charge households for the amount of non-recyclable waste they produce, which currently has to be buried in landfill sites.
Britain is the only major European country not to have separate charges for refuse collection. But there are fears that any new system could cost an average of £20 a month for each home.
An opinion poll for the Channel 4 Despatches programme to be shown tonight, reveals that almost two in three people - 62 per cent - oppose the idea of a "pay as you throw" rubbish tax.
The poll also confirms massive concern over the disappearance of traditional weekly refuse collections. The Daily Telegraph revealed last month that about nine million people now had to put up with collections every two weeks.
In a statement to MPs today David Miliband, the Environment Secretary, will unveil a broad national waste strategy to bring a "collective effort" to recycle more and dump less.
Compared with other European countries, only Greece and Portugal recycle less than Britain.
The Environment Secretary is also likely to put pressure on supermarkets and manufacturers to reduce packaging. One fifth of annual household waste is packaging.
Mr Miliband is expected to pave the way to a new waste levy by launching a consultation exercise.
Officials refused last night to clarify his intentions.
But a government source said yesterday that Mr Miliband would outline plans whereby people who persistently refused to recycle their rubbish could be "fined".
However, Labour is desperate to avoid accusations that this amounts to an extra tax.
Mr Miliband is expected to shift responsibility on to local councils by saying it is up to them - not central government - to decide whether to levy the charges. But the Conservatives said last night that Labour could not escape the blame.
Eric Pickles, the Tory spokesman on local government, released a survey suggesting ministers have been developing the "bin tax" all along without public consent.
Compared with other European countries, only Greece and Portugal recycle less than Britain
The survey, based on freedom of information requests to councils, shows that roughly one in seven already have rubbish bins with microchip technology or are about to receive them. The Local Government Association [LGA] said yesterday it knew of only 30 such councils.
A spokesman for the Conservatives said: "These FoI requests reveal that a series of councils have been directly funded by the Government to install such microchips."
Blackpool has spent £3 million on a new bin contract, while Crewe and Nantwich, in Cheshire, has spent £3.5 million. The microchips, which on their own simply reveal which property the bin refers to, are not currently activated, the two councils said.
Currently, collecting rubbish costs on average £140 a household but the bill is buried in the council tax.
One government source claimed that under the system "greener householders" could actually end up paying less.
Last night, the LGA insisted that virtually all the current microchips were "inert", and that modern bins come already fitted with them.
"68 town halls have spent millions of pounds..."
"could eventually be used to charge households"
They would notice. Rocks can be hidden and weigh much much more.
Garbage collection and lasnd fill sites take up time, money and space.
So long as they don’t know what goes into my bin (which they won’t) then I can’t see a problem with something that will give millions of people the chance to save money.
Tow halls already spend millions more on the service itself.
As for the cost of putting it in which it refers to, that will massively fall as it is adopted nationwide, and will be nothing compared to long term savings.
Yes, you’re right; they cost money, which is why I pay taxes. Guess you don’t pay any. Lucky!
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