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[Adventurer]

Last Updated: Tuesday, 10 April 2007, 00:44 GMT 01:44 UK

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Belgium's rubbish solution
By John Andrew
BBC local government correspondent


Councils in England could soon be allowed to charge residents for the amount of rubbish they throw away. But what effect have "pay as you throw" systems had in other countries?


Lokeren's paying system was unpopular with residents at first

When I visited the Flanders town of Lokeren - half-way between Antwerp and Ghent - I was following in the footsteps of environment minister Ben Bradshaw.

He went with a team of officials last year to see how this part of Belgium recycles more than 70% of its household waste.

In Lokeren itself, the rate is nearly 80% - more than three times that in England as a whole. So how do the Flemish do it?

Not long ago the cost of rubbish collection and disposal was "hidden" in the main local tax - as it is in Britain.

But a few years ago the Flemish moved to a system where people pay a separate annual waste fee. In Lokeren, it's set at 80 euros (�56).

On top of that, they pay variable charges based on the weight and volume of waste they leave for collection.

Chipped bin

The idea is to encourage people to produce less waste and recycle more.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6539813.stm

[stevemcgarrett]

Adventurer:

Interesting article, as usual. But the cheaper solution would simply be to transport it across the border into France. It wouldn't be noticed much there anyhow.