Waste Watch view on Pay As You Throw
Pay As You Throw (PAYT) is an issue that has already led to heated debate in the national media, touching on issues of equity, the relationship between the individual and the State and the 'polluter pays' principle. It has been attacked as a bin tax by some sections of the press and led to privacy fears about the use of micro chips in bins.
So what is all the fuss about? PAYT, also known as variable charging, refers to charging households for the collection, treatment and disposal of their waste. Crucially, it is charged according to the quantity of waste set out for collection, measured by volume, weight, size or number of containers, or a combination of these.
Such schemes have been operating in the USA and continental Europe for some time. In the UK, existing legislation forbids any sort of charge to be made for household waste collection. However, the government's Waste Strategy 2007 made provision for a number of PAYT pilot schemes, and legislation to allow this is currently working its way through Parliament.
Waste Watch's view is that local authorities should be allowed to introduce variable charging if they wish for two main reasons.
It works. Research has shown that the introduction of such schemes encourages recycling and makes people think about reducing their waste, for example by changing their shopping habits.
It is fairer. We all pay for the collection of our waste and recycling through Council Tax, around 70p per collection for each service. But this cost is rising with landfill tax increases. This flat rate charge for all effectively penalises those who are doing the right thing by reducing and recycling their waste. What is more we already pay for other utilities such as gas, water and electricity by how much we use, so why not waste too?
It is our view that many of the criticisms levelled at PAYT are not valid. There has been no evidence of increased fly tipping where it has been introduced. Fears of invasion of privacy have so far proved unfounded and allegations that variable charging amounts to a stealth tax are misguided as schemes would be revenue neutral.
Waste Watch therefore advocates PAYT only if the following conditions are met.
- All residents should have equal access to a high quality, free at the point of use doorstep recycling service. Recycling should be at least as easy as throwing away general waste and councils should collect at least the main five recyclables: glass; paper; cardboard; plastic; and cans.
- Councils ensure that all parts of the community are aware of how they can minimise their waste through comprehensive communications.
- Waste charges are set at a level that motivates consumers to reduce their waste, but not so high as to encourage illegal waste disposal.
- Waste charges are de-coupled from the Council Tax bill and presented in a separate bill, which shows consumers the amount of waste set out and the related per unit charges, similar to electricity and gas bills.
- The introduction of such schemes should be accompanied by producer responsibility measures to cut packaging waste and allow individuals a greater degree of control over their waste production by reinforcing the 'polluter pays' principle.
We believe that PAYT schemes will help the public take more responsibility for their waste and move towards more sustainable waste management. However, whether successful schemes can be delivered will depend on clear policy from central government, good communications and more enforcement to ensure they have the desired effect.
