Charges To Dispose Of DIY Rubbish Set To Be Scrapped

Charges for getting rid of DIY rubbish at Leicestershire’s tips are set to be scrapped – in the hope it will reduce flytipping.

The government has today announced plans to allow householders to dispose of things like fence panels, baths, bricks, tiles and paving slabs for free in England.

Leicestershire County Council currently charges for disposing of certain waste from DIY projects at its household waste and recycling centre.

It says it is looking carefully at the proposals and a spokesperson told Hfm: “We’re aware of the Government’s proposals to consult on amending the legislation, but we need to look very carefully at what is outlined before commenting further.

“While the cost of disposing of fly-tipped waste is picked up by the County Council, the clean-up of fly-tipped waste is a district council’s responsibility.

“We work closely with them to tackle this crime and we would encourage people to report fly-tipping and any suspicious activity to their local district council.”

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.

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.”