Speaking as it published new figures today revealing that Britain sends more waste to landfill than any other country in the European Union, the Association called for “bold reforms” to cut waste and increase recycling.
 Cllr Paul Bettison launched the LGA's “War on Waste” in London today |
In particular, it called for central government to work more with manufacturers to reduce packaging and to provide councils with the powers to introduce variable charging over waste.
Councillor Paul Bettison, chairman of the LGA's environment board, said: “Central government should give councils save-as-you-throw powers to help encourage people to take more responsibility for the way they throw their rubbish away. If save-as-you-throw were introduced, it would mean a reduction in council tax and a separate charge for waste collection.”
He commented: “A town the size of Warwick is already being used to dump Britain's rubbish and unless the ways of people and businesses change it is estimated we will run out of landfill space in nine years time.”
Manufacturers
Cllr Bettison said that the LGA also wanted to see central government tackle the root of the waste problem – by working with product manufacturers.
He said: “Manufacturers must be made to pay towards the cost of getting rid of single use items like nappies, batteries and throw-away cameras. It is totally unacceptable that the council tax payer is picking up the bill for business. The government should ensure that it is the polluter, and not people, that pay.”
Fines
Cllr Bettison, who represents the interests of more than 400 LGA member councils in England and Wales, warned that if more effort was not made by both government and the public, councils and consequently council taxpayers would face European fines of up to 150 a tonne for waste which continued to go to landfill.
He said: “If we don't work together we won't solve this problem in anything like the time scale it needs to be solved. At the moment the UK sends 27 million tonnes of waste to landfill a year and yet we are the second or third worst recyclers in Europe.”
However, Cllr Bettison, who is leader of Bracknell Forest council, thought central government had taken some steps towards tackling waste which were “to be applauded”, and that he had already received some positive signals from central government about the campaign.
He said: “Mr Miliband said to me that we were pushing on an open door and I'm looking forward to this year with optimism.”
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