Landfill tax could cost homes £30

Sending rubbish to landfill could cost householders an extra £30 this year, council leaders have warned.

The LGA is calling on the government to fulfil its promise and return to local authorities money raised through landfill tax so they can invest in better recycling facilities and divert even more rubbish from landfill.

From 1 April the amount councils are charged in tax for sending household rubbish to landfill is set to increase from £32 per tonne to £40. At current rates of landfill use the tax will cost councils £620m this year, or nearly £30 per household in England.

Cllr Paul Bettison, chairman of the LGA environment board, said: “Landfill tax is quite literally costing the earth and this latest rise will only add to the bill. The fear is that householders could ultimately pick up the extra cost.

“Dumping rubbish in a hole in the ground isn’t just bad for the environment it threatens to hit the council tax payer in the pocket unless we cut back.”

Cllr Bettison said despite repeated requests, the government had yet to demonstrate in a clear and transparent way how this money was being given back to local authorities.

“Councils could use this cash to keep council tax down and build the waste and recycling facilities that the country needs,” he said.