A survey of people's attitudes to waste and recycling shows a significant increase in support for the introduction of variable charging schemes for the collection of household waste. Figures in a survey commissioned by national charity Waste Watch show that a majority of respondents, 57%, are in favour of councils charging per bin or bag of waste for its collection, either by volume or mass. The report, What People Think About Waste 1999, funded by UK Waste, states that this is a significant 10% shift in favour compared to last year. Environment minister Michael Meacher raised the possibility of charging householders separately for waste collection in his Less Waste, More Value consultation paper last May. Under the proposal the estimated annual £50 cost of collection and disposal would be separated out from the council tax bill, with those recycling more charged less.
