Spying garbage cans...

Oh, I guess this is going to come to Canada....

Figures released using the Freedom of Information Act show 42 local authorities have installed the 'spy' devices in rubbish containers to record how much residents are throwing away.

Councils insist the information collected by the microchips, which measure the weight of rubbish placed in bins, will be used to educate households about cutting waste, targeting those who are the worst at recycling.

Opponents, however, say the technology will make it easy for the government to resurrect plans for the introduction of a £50 pay-as-you-throw tax on millions of families.

Recycling charges are part of the Government's waste strategy to encourage households to recycle at least 40 per cent of their rubbish by 2010, rising to 50 per cent by 2020.

The figure show two million households now have bins fitted with microchips. Joining them this summer will be residents of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse whose district councils have put the devices in 100,000 bins as part of a new £8m waste contract in which bins will replace sack collections from June.

Sensors and weighing equipment fitted to the back of each rubbish lorry allow the council to collect data as each bin is raised. Information collected from outside each household is downloaded to a database that allows officials to monitor how much waste each household is producing for waste and for recycling.

Officials will then use the data to target errant streets and households. They are also considering publishing league tables of the best and worst roads for recycling. The councils hope to increase recycling rates from 43 per cent to 60 per cent.