The Local Government Association is calling for tougher laws and serious fines to crack down on excessive packaging, amid new figures showing councils face up to £3bn in landfill tax over the next four years. The LGA’s latest analysis shows the cost of landfill tax to local councils could run into billions of pounds, based on the gradual increase in landfill tax. From 1 April, the landfill tax paid by councils increased to £24 per tonne, and will increase by 33% to £32 next year. To combat the landfill threat, the LGA is now focusing on excess packaging. It says only four firms have been successfully prosecuted under the current EU packaging Directive, which has too many loopholes, and, with a maximum fine of £5,000, poses no real deterrent for large firms. Cllr Goeffrey Theobald, chairman of the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS), said: ‘Tougher laws and serious fines are needed for local authority trading standard services to successfully regulate manufacturers which use excess packaging. ‘Packaging waste increased by 13% from 1999 to 2005 and if this trend continues it will cost taxpayers millions each year to get rid of, damage the environment and contribute to climate change.’ The LGA adds that landfill space will run out within the next nine years, unless urgent action is taken to boost recycling rates. Media opposition to alternate weekly collections has prompted the LGA to step up its war on waste campaign. Even Tony Blair has fuelled the fire by criticising councils which have switched schedules to twice-per-month rubbish collections. In an interview with GMTV, the prime minister said: ‘It is for councils to decide, but in the end I am a traditionalist on this. I think there may be better ways of doing things.’