After more than four hours of intense debate on the details of the government's "pay as you throw" proposals last Wednesday, I've changed my mind.
Before the "scrubbing down" I promised with my 30-plus amendments (plus some from the Tories) my view was that they needed some pretty thorough scrutiny.
Now I just think they are completely bonkers.
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I'm not sure whether "bonkers" is a parliamentary term but after about three hours I lost my patience and got away with saying it!
So what are they proposing? For the moment it's only five pilot schemes in different councils in England and I can't think we'll get any of those in East Lancs (not if our councils have any sense, we won't).
The danger as the Bill stands is that once the pilots are over the government will be able to decree a "rollout" to the rest of the country, with a level of parliamentary scrutiny and approval that will be less than enough.
They have four general ideas in mind.
One is the infamous "chip in bin" system. Everyone's residual rubbish (what is not put in the recycling) will be weighed. The more you throw the more you will pay - and you'll get a bill from the council.
If you don't throw much you'll get a rebate, possibly £30 off the council tax next year (if you are still living in the same place).
Another scheme is to sell rubbish sacks (the "pound a bag" scheme). They will collect what you put in the sacks you have paid for and no more.
A third idea is to run a standard service for free (say once a fortnight).
You can order more collections but you will get a bill for them.
The last idea is for "big bins and little bins". If you want a bigger bin they will charge you for it (and a lot more than the cost of the bin itself).
For all these schemes there might be lots of exceptions (poor people, large families, young children, disabled or old people, flats, cottages - you name it.)
The administration will be a nightmare and all for extra charges or rebates that might only be £25 a year.
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