Consumers could be rewarded for recycling with vouchers for Tesco and Marks & Spencer in the event of a Conservative election victory.

Families could get hand-outs worth up to £130 according to the Tory plan, which aims to increase household recycling by 30% through a points system tracking how much waste shoppers recycle.

The scheme has already been piloted in a number of Tory-controlled local councils.

“Carrots work better than sticks,” shadow Chancellor George Osborne said. “Instead of punishing people, as Labour [does] with bin taxes, the Conservatives want to encourage families by paying them to recycle.”

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Councils improve carton recycling (20 November 2009)
Retailers cut landfill by a third (12 November 2009)

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