William Eichler 11 April 2022

Councils to be banned from charging for disposal of DIY waste

Councils to be banned from charging for disposal of DIY waste  image
Image: Toby Howard/Shutterstock.com.

The Government has proposed banning local authorities from charging for the disposal of DIY waste from households.

Currently, around a third of local authorities charge for the disposal of waste such as plasterboards, bricks and bath units.

Under the new proposals, such charges would be banned. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) argues that this would help reduce the number of fly-tipping incidents.

‘When it comes to fly-tipping, enough is enough. These appalling incidents cost us £392m a year and it is time to put a stop to them,’ said environment minister Jo Churchill.

‘I want to make sure that recycling and the correct disposal of rubbish is free, accessible and easy for householders. No one should be tempted to fly tip or turn to waste criminals and rogue operators.’

Defra also launched a call for evidence on the use of booking systems at recycling centres amid concerns these could be making it harder for people to dispose of their waste and increasing the risk of fly-tipping.

New grants totalling £450,000 will also be available to local authorities to help them trial innovative ways to help stop fly-tipping – a crime that increased by 16% during lockdown. In 2020/21, there were 1.13 million fly-tipping incidents.

In response to the proposals, Cllr David Renard, environment spokesperson for the Local Government Association (LGA), said that councils were ‘best placed to decide what works best for their areas.’

‘The disposal of non-household waste, such as DIY waste and tyres, is a non-statutory duty. As a result, some councils have had to introduce charges for this waste due to the rising costs of providing the service and the financial pressure they are under,’ he said.

‘Money raised from charges goes back into services so councils can continue to offer disposal facilities for these materials to residents, who would otherwise find them difficult to get rid of and will ensure that the system is not abused by those seeking to dispose of trade waste for free.’

A LARAC spokesperson commented: 'This proposal was not included in any of the consultations last year and has not received the same scrutiny through an impact assessment or widespread debate on any consequences.

'Whilst removing these charges reduces the cost on individual householders, now local taxpayers will have to cover the cost of these materials with increased processing costs at the recycling centres which are paid for out of council tax.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Cleaner and Caretaker

North Yorkshire Council
£12.65 - £13.47 per hour
Are you looking for a cleaning role that is a little different? Ripon, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Cleaner and Caretaker

North Yorkshire Council
£12.65 - £13.47 per hour
Are you looking for a cleaning role that is a little different? Bradley, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Specialist Customer Service Officer

Oxfordshire County Council
£31,537 - £34,434 per annum
Are you passionate about helping others and making a real impact in your community? We’re looking for Specialist Customer Service Officers to join our dynamic Contact Centre team, the first point of contact for a wide range of essential services acros Oxfordshire County Council , County Hall, Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Cook

North Yorkshire Council
£13.47 - £14.13 per hour
Are you keen to join a friendly team who are committed to making a real impact in their local community? Lancaster, Lancashire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Catering Assistant

North Yorkshire Council
£12.65 - £12.65 per hour
We have an opportunity to join our award-winning Facilities Management catering team. North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner