by David Harrison
Household rubbish collections in Britain are set to be cut to just one a month, according to a director of the government's waste quango.
Household rubbish collections in Britain will be cut to just one a month, says a director of the government's waste quango.
Monthly collections were "inevitable" as the rate of recycling increased, said Phillip Ward, the head of waste programmes at the government-funded Waste Resources Action Programme (Wrap).
Mr Ward, who advises local authorities on waste collection, told The Sunday Telegraph: "They already have monthly collections in Germany and I'm sure we will see that happen in some areas of Britain."
The first monthly collections could begin "in the next three to five years" in areas where recycling rates are high and "waste reduction" programmes are well advanced, he said.
"There will come a time when people will be surprised if the refuse collectors come round just two weeks after their last visit. They will be asking 'What are you doing coming back so soon?"
His comments will deepen the controversy over rubbish collections and add to concern among householders that services are being cut while council tax soars.
Nearly half – 168 – of Britain's 397 local authorities have already introduced fortnightly collections.
Critics said monthly collections would be "disastrous".
Mark Wallace, the campaign director for the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "This shocking confession exposes the real agenda behind far too many councils' bin policies. Taxpayers are being ripped off as council tax soars inexorably, while essential services like bin collections are being cut from weekly to fortnightly and eventually to monthly."
Mr Ward said: "By the time people have taken out paper, bottles, cardboard, tins and food waste, there will be hardly anything left in the black bags, so there will be no need for weekly or fortnightly collections.
"People don't like change so there will be resistance. But they will get used to it and we will eventually catch up with countries like Germany."
The Government wants rubbish collections to be reduced to cut the amount going to landfill and help combat global warming.
A spokesman for Defra said: "It is up to local authorities to decide on the best policy according to their circumstances."
Britain's recycling rate now averages 33 per cent, compared with 7 per cent in 1997. The Government's target is a 40 per cent by 2010.
