'Pay-as-you-throw' trial schemes to be rejected

MOST councils are set to shun a "pay-as-you-throw" trial on household waste, research showed today.

None of the 100 councils in England which answered a survey said they would take part in a pilot of the scheme.

But it found that many councils are embracing fortnightly rubbish collections - and that the system is helping to boost recycling levels by almost 10per cent on average.

The pay-as-you-throw pilot - part of the Climate Change Act - allows up to five councils in England to test whether rewarding residents for recycling or charging them for producing too much waste will reduce rubbish levels.

Councillor Terry Neville of Enfield council, said: "As the country is about to enter possibly the worst recession in memory, the Government is encouraging councils to heap more expense on households. It simply beggars belief.

"We will not ask our residents to fork out more for something they already pay for in Council Tax."

Shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth said the response was "clear proof the Government's plan isn't fit for purpose".