The Government have announced plans to save money for households disposing of DIY waste, alongside new grant funding for Local Authorities to clamp down on fly-tipping.
Households will no longer have to pay to get rid of DIY waste under plans set out by government to change the rules that currently allows some Local Authorities to charge for DIY waste from households. Under the proposals, household DIYers would not be charged to get rid of waste including plasterboards, bricks and bath units.
This is part of a fresh move to crack down on fly-tipping, which has increased since the beginning of the pandemic.
The Government banned backdoor charges on local residents disposing of household rubbish at household waste centres in 2015 and since then guidance has made clear that this includes DIY household waste.
However, around a third of Local Authorities still charge for certain types of DIY waste, using rules designed for construction waste. The changes outlined in a technical consultation published today will change this rule and could save households up to £10 for an individual item – for example, a sheet of plasterboard.
Fly-tipping is a crime which blights communities, poses a risk to public health and the environment, and costs up to £392 million a year. Local authorities dealt with 1.13 million fly-tipping incidents in 2020/21, up by 16% from 2019/20.
Alongside this, a call for evidence on the use of booking systems at recycling centres will be launched today – some of which were brought in when restrictions were imposed during the pandemic – amid concerns these could be making it harder for people to dispose of their waste and increasing the risk of fly-tipping.
Finally, a number of councils in England will also be awarded grants to tackle fly-tipping through trial projects, including CCTV to target hotspots.
Environment Minister Jo Churchill said:
When it comes to fly-tipping, enough is enough. These appalling incidents cost us £392 million a year and it is time to put a stop to them.
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.
Furthermore, the funding that we have announced for Local Authorities today will help them trial innovative new projects to put a stop to fly tipping. We will learn from the successes – and replicate them.
Kirklees Conservative Group Deputy Leader and Kirkburton Ward Councillor, John Taylor said:
Kirklees Conservatives welcome this Governement initiative to scrap rules and charges on households disposing of DIY waste. We have campaigned for Kirklees’ absurd rules to be scrapped since the Labour administration brought them in. At least here the Government shows it has been listening to people and their concerns around flytipping and DIY waste.
Contrast this with this Labour administration. Another example of Labour refusing to listen to local people. Now more than ever this Area needs change, to an administration willing to listen and act on people’s concerns.
This is your next Conservative administration.
If you want things to improve and the Council to listen to you, vote Conservative on May 5th.
Read the press release in full, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-new-crackdown-on-fly-tipping
