GOVERNMENT plans for weekly waste collection charges have hit stiff opposition in Huddersfield.

Liberal Democrats have slammed Labour suggestions that every household should pay a charge calculated on the weight of the rubbish they produce.

Party activists drew up a petition opposing the idea. Shahida Awan is pictured signing it in New Street on Saturday, watched by Clr John Smithson.

The petition has 2,00 names, 500 of which were collected on Saturday. It will be presented to the full council meeting tomorrow.

Lib Dem spokeswoman Emma Bone said: "Under Labour's barmy scheme every household would have to pay each week to have their bin emptied. Rubbish would be weighed and charged by the kilo.

"Families with children would pay much more than anyone else. It is not fair and it will result in more fly-tipping."

The charging suggestion comes in a paper from the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit. If introduced, refuse collection costs would be taken off council tax bills, rubbish would be weighed by binmen and householders billed directly.

The unit says that without urgent action England's municipal waste will double by 2020, and will cost £3.2bn per year to dispose of - twice as much as now. It is also hoped the scheme would encourage more recycling.

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