Academic experts at The University of Northampton's world-renowned Centre for Sustainable Wastes Management have reacted cautiously to government proposals to make £250 million available to help English councils keep or restore weekly bin collections.

The government has indicated that only councils which guarantee weekly collections for five years and demonstrate improvements in recycling and procurement are eligible.

Dr Terry Tudor, Postdoctoral Fellow in Environmental Science at The University of Northampton, comments: "Councils in England already offer both weekly as well as alternate weekly collections. Crucially, alternate weekly collections have been around for some time and have been shown to be more efficient and also boost recycling rates.

"It is difficult to see how beneficial an emphasis on weekly collections will be for either councils or households. Indeed, a sum of only £250 million is unlikely to be enough to adequately compensate all of the councils for the additional infrastructural expenses that would be required."

Dr Margaret Bates, Manager for the Centre for Sustainable Wates, adds: "A more pressing concern relates to the development of strategies to minimise waste and to better recover value from that which is produced."

The Centre for Sustainable Wastes Management at The University of Northampton is a multi-disciplinary research centre focusing on issues that are central to the national, regional and local sustainable and environmental economic agenda.

The Centre focuses mainly on the national strategic research themes developed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and acts as a strategic resource for local and national Government, regional agencies and industry. Its aim is to make a difference to the economy, the environment and wider society.

The University is a UK Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Wastes Management and research underpins all taught courses, especially distance learning courses, at undergraduate and postgraduate level.