Warning: Labour councillor John Bees said the incentive scheme could punish residents who aren't perfect recyclers
Bristol City Council’s plan to reward residents who reduce their black-bag waste could be used as a “big stick” to punish householders who aren’t perfect recyclers, a Labour councillor has said.
As reported yesterday, more than 2,000 homes in Bishopston, Cotham and Redland will be encouraged to recycle more of their rubbish — and could earn up to £40 a year, depending on how much they reduce their general waste.
A microchip will be put into wheelie bins so that the weight of waste can be recorded. If the proposal is matched by funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) next Monday, Bristol will be the first authority in the UK to adopt the ‘pay-as-you-throw’ scheme.
Councillor Gary Hopkins, cabinet member for environment and community safety, said the voluntary scheme would “encourage residents to think about what they are throwing away and act as a thank you to those who help us by reducing their waste”.
In 2006, there was anger when it emerged microchips had been placed in green bins. People were concerned that the council was acting like big brother and feared they’d be charged for the weight of rubbish they throw away.
“The Liberal Democrats say that this is a pilot scheme but obviously their plan is to roll out microchipped wheelie bins to every doorstep. It was only the strong voice from residents in the city that stopped this last time,” said Labour Councillor John Bees.
“Labour believes the Council should pursue the ‘carrot before the stick’, but make no mistake – this is the big stick approach. Householders will be wondering why their neighbours are effectively getting a discount on council tax whilst they are paying the full whack.”
Cllr Hopkins said yesterday that there would be no penalty for residents in the three trial areas who do not manage to reduce their waste.
The day I stop getting dozens of leaflets through the door every week plus loads of advertising leaflets with my weekend paper plus any amount of superfluous packaging whenever I buy anything might be the day I can start considering the idea that waste might be a problem. Until then anyone who puts a chip in my bin is going to find that a very powerful magnet has somehow managed to corrupt it.
Cllr Bees seems to be a slow learner.
Does he not remember that Labour lost the administration last year because their mass burn incinerator plan was thrown out and that shortly afterwards the Bristol electorate gave us the overall majority. Our plan is all carrot but typically Cllr Bees tries to misrepresent it as a sinister plot. The fact is that Bristolians have massively reduced waste over the last few years as well as recycling more and it is only fair that those that have helped to save us millions get the chance of a reward. To some the amount of money will be significant but we realise that others will be just as happy to donate to charity or forgo the money.
Ironic that the first report that I inherited from Cllr Bees ex ward partner (Judith price was the Labour Exec) was one titled "Compulsory recycling" .It was sent away.as Lib Dems prefer effective positive motivation to ineffective threats..
We hope that we get the green light to proceed.
Given the fortune the average Bristol household pays in council tax, £40 is a drop in the ocean.
Before offering households incentives, has the idea of producing less waste in the first place been considered? Manufacturers and supermarkets are both guilty of marketing their stuff in excess packaging and nothing appears to have changed for years in this respect.