Tories back recycling rewards in environmental policy speech
Shadow chancellor urges all councils to consider reward scheme and confirms the Conservatives would freeze landfill charge increases
25 Nov 2009
MORE PEOPLE would be rewarded for recycling and increases in landfill tax would be frozen from 2013 to 2020 if the Conservative Party came to power, shadow chancellor George Osborne announced this week.
In a series of policy announcements delivered to the Imperial College in London, Osborne set out how a Conservative Treasury would tackle climate change and stimulate “investment in new green technologies and jobs”.
He said a Conservative government would cut central government emissions by 10% within twelve months; make Whitehall energy consumption transparent and create a framework to allow the public to be paid to recycle.
Osborne said using “green taxes” as opposed to “stinging” people with bin taxes can be used to help councils cut household bills.
The shadow chancellor referred to the RecycleBank reward scheme currently in operation in the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, which he said is “delivering fantastic results”.
He said: “I want Conservatives to change the way we think about environmental action. At the moment it’s all about pain not gain. If you don’t recycle enough, Labour ministers say, “We will punish you with bin taxes.”
“But we all know that carrots work better than sticks. So I say reward people who do recycle with £130 a year on average for every family that does their bit.
“We’ve shown on the ground in one area of the country that this approach works – so let’s make it happen across the country.
“Let’s show that it pays to go green. We are going to share with councils across Britain the detailed information they need to implement the scheme themselves.”
The shadow chancellor also backed proposals set out by shadow environment minister Nick Herbert earlier this year to freeze landfill tax. Osborne said: “The Treasury has to do its part by setting out a clear, long term price on dumping waste. On Sunday, David Cameron announced that a newly elected Conservative government would hold a Budget within 50 days of coming to office. I can today tell you that if win the election, in that very first Budget I will put a floor under the announced 2013 level of landfill tax until 2020.
“This will guarantee that the landfill tax will not fall in real terms for 10 years. This would be the most long term tax commitment ever made by a chancellor, will send a powerful signal to councils around the country that paying the public to recycle is the right way to go.”
The New Local Government Network (NLGN) welcomed the comments, but said that instead of councils offering shopping vouchers as a reward for recycling, Osborne could instead look at offering reductions in household council tax bills.
Chris Leslie, director at the NLGN, said: “Our analysis suggests that households are more receptive to the carrot than the stick when encouraging recycling and we’re pleased that George Osborne is putting forward some positive incentives to support environmental behaviour, which will save money for both individuals and local authorities.
“However we would urge him to look at offering a “community payback” scheme that rewards whole neighbourhoods for reducing their overall level of waste.”