Chip-and-bin meeting with Defra ‘very positive’, says council

A team from Bristol City Council has said a meeting with government officials about their proposed ‘chip-and-bin’ scheme today was “very positive”.

Led by cabinet member Councillor Gary Hopkins, Executive Member for the Environment, the council team met officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on their plans to give cash rewards to residents who produce less black bin waste.

Gary Hopkins: Meeting with Defra over chip-and-bin scheme was 'very positive'

As reported last week, more than 2,000 homes in Bishopston, Cotham and Redland will be encouraged to recycle more of their rubbish — and could earn cash, depending on how much they reduce their general waste.

Residents who volunteer for the trial would be issued with a wheelie bin that has a microchip inside. Collection vehicles would be fitted with weighing equipment so that they can weigh the bins each week and record the weight on specialist software.

Bristol could be the first authority in the UK to introduce such a scheme and met with Defra this morning to discuss funding.

“We presented the bid for funding for this pilot and the panel of experts seemed very positive,” said Cllr Hopkins. “At no time did they outline any area of concern.

“We certainly were given no reason to be other than very positive that our bid will be accepted.”

No politician has been briefed on the scheme but the Defra panel said it would now be making its recommendation to Secretary of State Hilary Benn, who will make the final decision.

While residents who volunteer for the pilot scheme could earn up to £40 a year, opposition councillors have warned it could end up being “big stick” to punish householders who aren’t perfect recyclers.