The Local Government Association (LGA) is calling on the chancellor to scrap his plans for an 11% hike in landfill tax as it will do nothing to increase recycling levels.
The justification for the landfill tax when it was introduced in 1996 was that it would encourage recycling of waste materials, including construction waste. While there is much evidence that he tax has succeeded in this, the LGA says that there is no evidence that increasing the tax from the current £72 per tonne to £80 will have any impact.
The increase is due to come into effect next month. The LGA is urging the chancellor to use this month’s budget statement to scrap the rise.
The LGA also wants landfill tax revenue to be hypothecated for local authorities’ waste management and recycling projects rather than simply being swallowed into Treasury coffers.
