Davey slams "rubbish poll tax"

24.07.02

Edward Davey, Lib Dem MP for Kingston and Surbiton, has criticised the government for their proposal to charge £1 per bag of rubbish produced, over and above what residents already pay for their council tax, calling it a "rubbish poll tax".

Last week Whitehall's Performance and Innovation Unit put forward the idea of charging households for the amount of rubbish they produced, suggesting a £1 a bag or £5 a month flat fee.

Speaking from Westminster Edward Davey commented;

'Double charging people through £1 on a bag of rubbish on top of Council Tax makes no sense. Like the poll tax, it would be an administrative nightmare and hit the poorest hardest.

"We urgently need to reduce waste and increase recycling, but there are many other initiatives we could take before we hit people's pockets.

"Nationally, Liberal Democrats are pushing for the type of "zero waste initiatives" other countries have successfully tried. This includes government working with manufacturers to make products last longer and to use materials that are easier to recycle. It also means composting more of the organic waste we produce.

"By missing this opportunity, the Government leaves us waiting yet again, for yet another report, before any action is taken."

Edward Davey continued:

"Locally, I know the new Council, led by Councillor Tricia Bamford, who holds the waste portfolio, will oppose these moves. The Liberal Democrat council has already made waste minimisation a top priority for 2002. Kingston Council is looking at new ways to reduce the problem and cost of growing amounts of waste, including a major expansion of recycling. That's a much better way to go."