Communities Secretary Eric Pickles announced the news today (February 3) and hopes the fund will promote innovation, better procurement and joint working across councils. It will prioritise bids which support comprehensive weekly rubbish and recycling collections – including separate food waste collections.

Pickles said: “Rubbish collections are the most visible service that people get for their £120 a month council tax bill. But barmy bin rules have made putting out your rubbish more complicated than solving a Rubik’s cube. The public are fed up of all the bin do’s and bin don’ts.

“People just want a comprehensive service in return for their council tax, which is why this Government is working with councils to increase the frequency and quality of rubbish and recycling collections.”

The new fund is also intended to help support recycling incentive initiatives such as Windsor & Maidenhead’s Recyclebank scheme and Birmingham’s Nectar points scheme. Related to this, the Government has also launched a consultation to stop councils imposing bin fines on householders for breaching refuse rules.

The £250m fund has been welcomed by the Environmental Services Association. Its director of policy Matthew Farrow said: “We support the encouragement given to local authorities to think innovatively and to work with the private sector.”

The bidding form for applicants can be found here

Maxine Perella

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