Speaking at the RWM 2014 recycling and waste management event at the NEC, Pickles said he has always supported weekly collections and weekly waste food collections, but drew criticism from some sections of the audience – many of whom were employees from local authorities throughout the UK.
He said rubbish collections are the most visible service that people get for their council tax bill, and that residents deserved a comprehensive weekly service in return for their taxes.
The majority of councils in England carry out fortnightly collections.
Pickles repeated that numerous councils have managed to recycle over half of all rubbish while maintaining weekly collections, and insisted surveys showed residents favoured keeping weekly collections. Councils should listen to their residents.
He also maintained that local authorities can protect weekly collections at little or no extra cost, and cited Bournemouth Borough Council’s weekly collection which he said has one of the best recycling rates in England.
He also mentioned Cambridgeshire council whose recycling rates have jumped from 34% to 82%.
"One council member told me they have trained their electorate to accept fortnightly collections. But I believe the majority of the public want to see weekly collections. Let us put it to a vote.”
He insisted the coalition government has spent reasonably on waste collection, and said that the Labour party has said it would not increase spending.
He also added that there were “no current plans to make it mandatory to charge for green waste”.
