The government is making £250m available to encourage councils in England to restore weekly bin collections. The policy appeared to have been shelved earlier this year. Over half of English councils now have some form of fortnightly scheme. The funding will be allocated to councils that can guarantee weekly collections.

The Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, said the new initiative offered incentives for both councils and their residents to recycle more:

"What this is about is about giving local councils that choice," he told the Today programme's John Humphrys.

"They're no longer forced to do this for financial reasons and I think it gives the local council to actually treat the public with respect rather than using the great force of, if you don't do it right the place is going to be smelly, it's going to stink up and it's going to be more unpleasant for you.

"It's saying, well look, if you recycle then you get something back. If you are prepared to co operate with the council then we will reward you, rather than treating you, to coin a phrase, like rubbish."

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