Tax to rise if bin plans pushed through (From Harrow Times)

Tax to rise if bin plans pushed through

2:06pm Sunday 18th November 2007

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THE cost of clearing up dumped rubbish in Harrow soared by more than £300,000 last financial year, and a prospective Tory MP is warning this cost will increase if the Government pushes through new bin tax plans.

Dr Rachel Joyce, the prospective parliamentary candidate for Harrow West, has spoken out against Government plans to charge people using more bin bags, claiming it will increase incidents of fly-tipping, which rose by 1,500 per cent in Harrow last year.

She said: "Plans for bin taxes would harm the local environment and public health by leading to a further worsening of fly-tipping and backyard burning.

"The set-up and running costs of such a complex tax, installing microchips in every bin, will mean the overall burden of taxation will rise.

"Families in Harrow could now face the double whammy of higher council tax bills and new bin taxes.

"This, coupled with the poor grant settlement, mean that Harrow has been treated appallingly."

Plans under consideration at Westminster would see residents charged for every unsorted bag of rubbish they dispose of, in order to promote recycling.

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