Westminster City Council has joined forces with local authorities throughout the UK to demand the government return cash raised through landfill tax.

The government announced this week that Landfill Tax will increase from 24 per tonne to 32 per tonne and will continue to increase by 8 per tonne each year.

The government had previously promised that landfill tax increases would be revenue neutral to local authorities. Despite this local authorities are yet to see in a clear and transparent way, how this money will be paid back to them.

In a Local Government Association letter signed by more than 80 councils, to the Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Hilary Benn, council leaders claimed that following this year's dramatic increase in the tax, sending rubbish to landfill could see nearly 70 per household going to Whitehall over the next three years.

Although Westminster Council only uses landfill to dispose of 14% of the waste it collects the government's tax hike will add a further 216,000 to its annual waste disposal costs. Money which could be ploughed back into improving recycling facilities.

Westminster City Council's Cabinet Member for Street Environment, Councillor Alan Bradley, said:

'This 'Catch 22' caused by the government is taking away resources which could be used to improved recycling schemes and make local authorities less dependent on landfill. This issue transcends party politics and impacts on all local authorities across London and the UK.'

 

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Introduced in 1996 as the UK's first environmental tax, Landfill Tax is a tax on the disposal of waste. It's aim is to encourage waste producers to use more environmentally friendly methods of waste disposal.

For further information on Landfill Tax contact HM Revenue & Customs National Advice Service on 0845 010 9000.

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