New figures show that rising taxes on throwing away rubbish could add £30 (Euro 32)to the council tax bills of every family in England this year.

From April 1, the amount councils are charged in tax for putting householders’ waste into landfill will rise by a quarter, from £32 per tonne to £40 per tonne. At current rates of landfill, the tax will cost councils and council taxpayers £620m this year, nearly £30 for every household in England.

Council leaders say the Government should fulfill its promise to return the money raised through landfill tax to local authorities. They say that this will allow councils to reinvest in improving recycling facilities and diverting more waste away from landfill.

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils in England, is calling for an open and fair way of returning money raised by landfill tax to local councils to ensure the £620m bill is not picked up by council tax payers.

Chairman of the LGA Environment Board, Councillor Paul Bettison, said: "Landfill tax is quite literally costing councils the earth and this latest rise will only add to the bill. The fear is that householders could ultimately pick up the extra cost. Dumping rubbish in a hole in the ground isn’t just bad for the environment, it threatens to hit the council taxpayer in the pocket unless we cut back. It’s more important than ever that people recycle as much as possible. If we don’t reduce landfill, councils and council taxpayers could soon face further fines of £150 for every tonne of rubbish that is landfilled above a set amount."

"Despite repeated requests, the Government is yet to demonstrate in a clear and transparent way how this money is being given back to local authorities. Councils could use this cash to keep council tax down and build the waste and recycling facilities that the country needs. Local people deserve great credit for boosting this country’s recycling rates so dramatically in recent years. Punishing councils and council taxpayers is not going to help increase recycling rates. This money should be used to help make recycling even easier for busy householders."