Homeowners should be allowed to scavenge for old televisions, furniture and appliances at dumps so they can reuse them, Michael Gove has suggested.

The Environment secretary told a meeting that he wanted to change rules at council recycling centres so people can recover valuables.

Currently, many local authorities ban people from taking away anything their tips,however Mr Gove said he wanted the rules to be relaxed.

According to the Sunday Times, Mr Gove told a meeting: “We must reduce the amount of material we waste.

"At the moment if I take something to the dump for which I have no use but which you could happily have picked up and reused then you are not allowed to.

"It is not an answer to everything but greater reuse is one way to ensure that pressure on resources diminishes.

“I do not want to go full 'Good Life' but resource efficiency is good for the economy.”

Some councils have set up shops next to dumps where families can snap up goods that have been thrown away for a fraction of their high street price.

Ian Palmer, who visits the Farthinghoe tip, run by South Northamptonshire council, said: “I found a digital radio, nearly new, for about £7 and a big round mirror for about £10. At another dump I found a scooter for my kid.”