£250m fund for a return to weekly waste collection

In September last year the government announced its intention to introduce support scheme for councils that retain or reinstate weekly residual waste and recycling services.

Ministers believe that waste services have become too complex, leaving residents anxious about following the rules and possible penalties, and beleive should focus on three things: better weekly collections, better contracts and better use of innovative ideas or technology that help residents to recycle more and do their bit for the environment.

However, Bristol city council has said the £250 million weekly waste fund is ‘unfair’, claiming that the scheme only rewards poor performing local authorities who have failed to take the necessary steps to manage their waste sustainably.

The city had been hoping that the fund would support weekly nappy collections and a waste reduction incentive scheme. In a letter to communities secretary Eric Pickles, Bristol councillor Gary Hopkins, who is responsible for waste services, said the criteria for the fund penalised the council for providing an “effective and efficient refuse collection and recycling service”.

Further information
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