Number of microchips in bins up by a third
The number of councils installing microchips in rubbish bins has increased by nearly two thirds in a year, a campaign group said today.
The number of councils installing microchips in rubbish bins has increased by nearly two thirds in a year, a campaign group said today.
At least 2.6 million households now have microchips in their bins.
They can be used to weigh the amount of waste used. Critics fear they will lead to "pay as you throw" charges. A survey by Big Brother Watch found 68 councils across the UK have installed the chips. That is an increase of 62 per cent on the 42 councils uncovered last year.
Freedom of Information Act requests led to the information becoming available.
Yesterday it was revealed Bristol City Council will run a voluntary scheme offering cash incentives for residents who cut the amount of waste they throw away. But they will not be charged more for more rubbish.
The report, "Lifting the Lid", found councils had spent more than £1 million installing the chips in the past year.
Alex Deane, director of Big Brother Watch, criticised the "surreptitious" installation of the chips.
He said: "The number of local councils placing microchips in bins is increasing, despite the fact that only one of them has volunteered to trial the scheme.
"Councils are waiting until the public aren't watching to begin surveillance on our waste habits, intruding into people's private lives and introducing punitive taxes on what we throw away.
According to the website bigbrother.org.uk, councils in the Midlands with chipped bins include Worcester and Redditch,
Both councils both said the idea was to "future proof" bins by buying them with chips already built in. But they had not been activated.