Weekly bin rounds could return in many areas after £250m fund set up

Eric Pickles, the local government secretary, creates cash pot to encourage councils to deliver Conservatives’ pre-election pledge Councils are to be offered financial support to restore weekly rubbish collections as the Conservatives attempt to deliver on a party pledge made before they came to power. A £250m fund is being set up to help local authorities in England switch from fortnightly to weekly bin rounds under plans unveiled by Eric Pickles, the communities and local government secretary. The policy is seen by Conservatives as delivering on a pledge the party made in opposition after the coalition came in for fierce criticism in June following its waste review, when it was revealed councils would not have to bring back weekly waste collections. Labour then accused the government of breaking its pre-election promise to abandon fortnightly bin collections, branding it a “huge missed opportunity”. Unveiling the move ahead of the party conference in Manchester, Pickles said he believed every household in England had a right to have their rubbish collected every week. “Weekly rubbish collections are the most visible of all frontline services and I believe every household in England has a basic right to have their rubbish collected every week,” he said. “Our fund will help councils deliver weekly collections and in the process make it easier for families to go green and improve the local environment.” The £250m weekly collections support scheme is expected to begin from next April. Funding will be available to English councils who guarantee to retain or reinstate weekly collections for at least five years and make a pledge to improve recycling rates and provide other enviromental improvements, such as reducing fly-tipping and litter.Councils will be able to bid for funding individually or in groups and can include the private sector “where this increases value for money”, said Pickles. Local government Eric Pickles Waste Recycling Cherry Wilson guardian.co.uk

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