UK NEWS
OUTCRY OVER £60 CHARGE FOR YOUR OWN WHEELIE BIN
HAZARD: The fortnightly collections are causing hygiene problems
By Graham Hiscott, Consumer Editor
ANGRY householders are being forced to pay £60 to have a dustbin delivered.
To add insult to injury, they are not allowed to avoid the charge by collecting the bin themselves.
Council chiefs say this is for “health and safety” reasons but the move has been branded another stealth tax, squeezing more money out of families.
The revelation will add to the mounting fury of many householders about refuse collections.
Fortnightly emptying of dustbins and fines for those who leave their rubbish in the wrong place have infuriated taxpayers.
The sense of outrage has been fuelled by plans for bin taxes to punish people for how much they throw out.
The £60 delivery charge has been imposed by South Cambridgeshire District Council which claims the controversial levy is merely to cover its costs.
But critics question the motive and fear it could lead to other local authorities introducing fees.
Homes in the South Cambridgeshire area must have a council wheelie bin in order to have their rubbish collected.
Matthew Elliott, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said the delivery charge was ludicrous.
He added: “Council tax has gone through the roof in recent years and taxpayers are hard-pressed to pay the bill as it is.
“Slapping extra charges on top of the existing bill is a stealthy and shoddy way of squeezing people for cash.
“It might be fair to charge those who need new bins if everyone else received a tax cut. Instead tax continues to rise.”
The South Cambridgeshire council said the £60 charge will apply to new and existing homes. There is no reduction for residents on benefits or low incomes.
The only exception is if households can prove their wheelie bin was stolen and provide a police crime reference number.
Despite the fee, the wheelie bin remains the property of the council. A council spokeswoman said: “South Cambridgeshire is a growth area with a population set to increase by a third by 2016.
“Extra growth means increased costs for services.”
The spokeswoman added: “We are not able to have people picking up their own bin at our depot as there are health and safety implications.”
The move by some councils to fortnightly collections has been widely criticised.
Ramsgate, in Kent, is one of them but residents say it has resulted in a health hazard from overflowing rubbish.
The Daily Express revealed last week that councils are earning thousands of pounds each year by fining home owners for leaving rubbish in the wrong place or at the wrong time.
Campaigners are furious that some charge residents for “offences” like leaving waste beside bins or putting refuse bags out a day early.
In November, a young mother was ordered to pay £360 for leaving her wheelie bin outside her gate after collection.
Town hall bosses insist that all householders return their wheelie bins to their backyards.
The latest charge comes amid fears that the Government is trying to sneak in new bin taxes despite an apparent U-turn. Tories have accused Gordon Brown of behaving like “wobbling jelly” after an official document revealed ministers still think “pay as you throw” taxes are fair.
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OUTCRY OVER £60 CHARGE FOR YOUR OWN WHEELIE BIN
02.01.08, 10:22am
YOU ALL HAVE A VOTE - USE IT ! and MAKE THE FACT KNOWN TO YOUR COUNCILLORS - preferably IN WRITING.
Either that or simply sit there bleating like sheep and let the establishment walk all over you !
• Posted by: EmperorMing • Report Comment
WHY THE SURPRISE
02.01.08, 9:46am
If you don't like it, at the next council elections you know what to do. If you don't, pay up, simple as that.
• Posted by: alcan • Report Comment
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