NSW:Rubbish idea: Pay to throw away food

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2010
NSW:Rubbish idea: Pay to throw away food

SYDNEY, Dec 23 AAP - Householders could be forced to pay for chucking food in their
garbage, a new report says.

The so-called "scrap tax" is designed to encourage more recycling.

The proposals are being considered by the NSW government, News Ltd reported on Thursday.

But major problems have been identified.

Under the plans, all food would either be banned from bins or people would be forced
to pay to throw it out, after a review found one-third of household waste was food that
could be composted.

Although householders currently pay a levy in their council rates for garbage collection
it was found to have "no effect" on recycling rates.

The NSW Waste Strategy and Policy Steering Committee Review said a cost-neutral scheme
could be considered, with council rates increased for food waste and reduced for items
which are not so easily recycled.

However the review admitted the scrap tax would be difficult to enforce, could be rorted
and would result in much bigger bills.

It's suggested the introduction of lockable bins could be one way of preventing neighbours
filling up each other's bins in the dead of night.

AAP mdg/was

KEYWORD: SCRAP

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