Press release

Environment Secretary visits recycling scheme

The scheme rewards householders who volunteer to participate with points worth up to £135 a year, from over 100 reward partners.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles today visited the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to see the county’s recycling reward scheme.

Ministers praised the scheme as the right way to encourage householders to recycle waste. The scheme rewards householders who volunteer to participate with points worth up to £135 a year, from over 100 reward partners including Marks & Spencer, Coffee Republic and Cineworld.

The Secretaries of State also announced they will amend the Climate Change Act, meaning that councils will not be able to trial schemes to charge householders for the waste they produce.

Caroline Spelman said:

“Windsor and Maidenhead Council have got it right by rewarding people for voluntarily doing the right thing, not penalising them for doing the wrong thing - that is how we can change behaviour, improve the environment and get people to play their part in a Big Society.

“That is why we are here today supporting the first ever council-wide scheme in the UK to give residents reward points or cash vouchers for recycling.”

Published 7 June 2010