Among the claim and counterclaim in the campaigns for next month’s local elections, I was particularly struck by one social media post from the Conservatives.

Under the heading “Labour Enforce 9 Container Recycling”, it thundered: “Imagine having to do this every week? They’ve gone too far.”

Some of you might remember that back in the autumn, Rishi Sunak declared in his junking of green policies that seven bins a week would never happen on his watch.

So how come Labour councils are now supposedly getting away with nine? Will this “binflation” never end?

Are these fictitious accusations going to reach double figures by the general election?

Regular readers of this column will know only too well of my fondness for recycling (how many times can you r-use the same joke before it gets worn out?).

What is striking and disappointing about the Conservative campaign, the outright fabrications aside, is how it plays on the suggestion that recycling a bit of a drag.

To be fair, that appears to be the case here in Wiltshire. Earlier in the year, Wiltshire Council revealed that while in neighbouring counties recycling rates are between 50 per cent and 60 per cent, here the number has fallen to below 40 per cent, the lowest it has been since 2010.

That’s pretty poor, frankly. Rather than bemoaning what a hassle it is to recycle, the government should be encouraging people to do more.

If people aren’t recycling enough under their own volition, are there ways we can incentivise people to do so?

This week, I ordered a takeaway from Wagamama, which came in its usual collection of plastic containers.

Here, Wagamama made an offer under their Bowl Bank scheme: return the cleaned containers to the restaurant and they’ll offer you a free side the next time you go there.

Given a portion of, say, ebi katsu, is £8, that feels a reasonable trade-off to me: I duly returned the cartons and immediately regretted not splitting the pile into two, to cheekily claim a second portion.

Wagamama aren’t the only company to try to encourage customers to recycle and re-use: Lush’s Bring It Back campaign offers 50p off per packaging returned; Pret gives 50p off for customers bringing in a re-usable cup. Boston Tea Party, meanwhile, goes one stage further by only selling takeaway coffee in re-usable cups.

Back in 2018, the government announced plans for a deposit return scheme for drinks containers: a 20p deposit would be added to the price, which would be returned when the containers were brought back.

Since then, the launch has been repeatedly delayed over arguments about whether to include glass. The scheme is now scheduled to start in 2025, assuming it hasn’t itself been binned.