Bin Labour's Tax on Garden Waste
Posted by Sarah Teather, MP for Brent Central, at 14:35, Mon 18 August 2014:
Last month, Labour-run Brent Council announced plans to charge residents to collect their green waste, on top of the council tax you already pay.
At the moment, green waste collections are included in council tax bills. I’ve spoken to a number of residents since these plans were announced – we are all wondering why residents are being asked to pay an additional charge just to have their rubbish collected.
Green waste includes items such as grass cuttings and hedge trimmings. If you choose not to pay the new charge, the Council will take away your green bin completely. This can only be bad news for residents and bad news for the environment. I fear green waste will just end up in grey bins and won’t be recycled.
Despite the economic recovery, many hardworking families are still feeling hard-pressed. The Council should be helping them, not coming up with new charges for basic services. It also makes a mockery of Brent Labour’s promise to freeze council tax this year.
I have been campaigning against the charge with Ibrahim Taguri, who will be standing for the Liberal Democrats in Brent Central next year. Ibrahim grew up in Willesden and is a really dedicated and hardworking local campaigner. You can sign his petition against the Council’s plans at http://www.ibrahimtaguri.com/bin_labour_s_tax_on_garden_waste.
What do you think of the plan to charge residents for rubbish collections?
It would be great to hear your thoughts. And please remember that if you want to raise any other issue with me, you can always email me at teathers@parliament.uk.
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Posted by Jonathan Melhuish, 15:38, Mon 18 August 2014: (Is this post abusive?) #
Thanks for taking this up, Sarah. I share your concerns that green waste will just end up going to the incinerator along with everything else. Such a crazy waste when we should be capturing food and green waste and making use of it! I compost as much as I can, but like most people I can't deal with perennial weeds etc.