In response to requests from local authorities, Defra announced in November 2007 that it would allow up to five local authorities in England to pilot incentive schemes. Powers to enable the pilots to go ahead are currently being debated as part of the Climate Change Bill. The first pilots, which will be subject to approval by the Environment Secretary, could start from April 2009.
Waste incentive schemes can charge or reward people according to the amount of unrecycled waste a household produces. Schemes could be rebate-only, offering rewards to those producing the least waste, or could be charge-and-rebate based, levying charges on those producing the most waste and using these to reward households which generate the least. Schemes must be 'revenue neutral', so any money raised through charges is paid back as rewards. Local authorities would not be able to keep any of the revenue themselves.
Environment Minister Joan Ruddock will be writing to local authorities, inviting them to come forward with proposals for pilot schemes. The deadline will be 8 weeks after Royal Assent to the Climate Change Bill.
There are six pieces of guidance, each one dealing with a different element of any scheme:
* Application and designation
* Technical issues
* Finance
* Coverage and disadvantaged groups
* Unauthorised deposit or disposal (fly tipping prevention)
* A good recycling service
Further information on monitoring and evaluating the pilots will be shared with stakeholders later in the year.
The deadline for comments on the guidance on a Good Recycling Service is 11 July; and for the rest of the guidance 25 July.
Comments and any queries should be sent to waste.incentives@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Updated versions of the guidance will be published once the Climate Change Bill has received Royal Assent.
