Don't rubbish local politics!

What is the issue that will make voters turn out in their droves on 3 May in the way that 85% of the French public did in the first round of the recent presidential election? 
While some may argue that the huge interest in France is about the national issue of restructuring the country's economy and, indeed, the very way the French lead their lives, in the UK, it is a very local issue that is taking on national significance.
Prime ministerial candidates are all-too-keen to display their green credentials, the national press has developed a keen interest in rubbish and recycling, and the Daily Mail has launched a campaign on waste-collection cycles.
So often in the past, experts have claimed the public vote in local elections on national issues, but there is evidence to suggest that this time round, things might prove different.
Waste is the service most commonly associated with local government by all members of the public. If you ask people what services their council provides or what they pay their council tax for, getting their bins emptied will top the list.
Last year, administrations which had introduced fortnightly collections tended to perform less favourably than others. This year, political parties are fighting local campaigns wholly on this theme.  
The debate about waste has got people interested in local government. And it's a topic which won't go away. Tight CSR settlements and mounting landfill costs, coupled with attempts to combat climate change, are forcing local authorities to encourage their communities to recycle more. Despite public dislike for fortnightly collections, councils have little alternative. It doesn't take a genius to work out that introducing variable charging for waste disposal is going to be equally unpopular. Councils will have their work cut out to carry residents along, either by incentivising recycling or penalising those who persistently ignore local initiatives. 
But this isn't down to councils. APSE's view is that a greater drive from the Government is needed to encourage manufacturers to produce less waste alongside these attempts by authorities to educate the public to change their behaviour.  
Rightly or wrongly, circumstances have conspired to make waste collection the hot political issue in this year's local government elections.
We shall see if it matters enough to people to get them into the polling stations on 3 May.