Minister rubbishes Tory recycling reward plans

Cabinet minister Ed Miliband accused the Tories of a 'greenwash' today after they unveiled plans to slash energy bills and waste.

Before next month's Copenhagen summit on global warming, shadow Chancellor George Osborne pledged that a Tory government would order Whitehall departments to cut carbon emissions by 10 per cent within a year.

The Treasury would reduce their funding if they fail to meet the target.

Mr Osborne also proposed a recycling scheme for households which would reward them with vouchers of up to £130 a year, which could be used at Marks & Spencer and other stores.

But Climate Change Secretary Mr Miliband dismissed Mr Osborne's plans to protect the environment, claiming they did not involve any extra funding. Referring to the Conservative leader's 2006 trip to an Arctic research station in Norway, he said: "George Osborne's latest announcement is as about as credible as David Cameron's photo op on the glacier.

"The truth is that the Tories have opposed Labour's extra public investment, including the £400 million allocated at the time of the budget for new green industries. So why should anyone believe a piece of greenwash from George Osborne?"

Mr Osborne was to deliver a speech at Imperial College in London saying: "Carrots work better than sticks. Instead of punishing people, as Labour do with bin taxes, the Conservatives want to encourage families by paying them to recycle."