Recycling

Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what incentives the Government has put in place to encourage households to reduce household waste and recycle more.

Joan Ruddock
[holding answer 27 November 2007]: Following a public consultation exercise over the summer, we announced that the Climate Change Bill will provide a power for local authorities to pilot incentives for household waste minimisation and recycling. I announced more detailed proposals on 15 November, which for the first time, will allow approved authorities to recognise more effectively the efforts of those householders who reduce, reuse and recycle their waste, and provide an incentive to those who currently do not.

A maximum of five local authorities will be able to pilot schemes and councils will be able to come forward with their own plans to fit local circumstances, for approval by the Secretary of State. This approach will allow us to monitor the impacts of incentives in England and report back to Parliament before a decision is made as to whether to roll this power out more widely.