Nick Harvey says:

‘Effectively bribing local authorities to enforce the proposed “bin tax” seems ludicrous.

‘To help fund employing bailiffs to collect unpaid “bin taxes” each local authority taking part in the pilot schemes will receive a £900,000 subsidy. The schemes will not be self funding as authorities will have to pay residents back on completion, making them reliant on the subsidy.

‘Some fourteen authorities have shown a willingness to take part though only five will be selected.

‘Pilot scheme proposals announced last November were widely criticised. The new tax will be based on the amount of non-recyclable waste produced by a household. However, bullying people on the doorstep with bailiffs is only going to encourage those unable to pay to either burn or fly tip their rubbish.

‘When the scheme goes national the subsidy will be withdraw leaving council tax payers to foot the bill, taxing people further to encourage recycling seems the wrong way to be tackling this problem.’