Data published by Norfolk council suggests that fly-tipping has increased across the county since charges at the council’s household waste and recycling centres (HWRCs) were introduced last year.
However, the council has claimed that the increase in fly-tipping incidents is not linked to the policy.
Norfolk council launched an anti-fly-tipping campaign this year
In April 2018, the council introduced a ‘DIY waste’ charge of £3 per 80 litre bag of rubble and timber, £5 for flat glass or general waste, £9-£15 for plasterboard, and £4 per tyre.
According to the statistics, which were compiled in partnership with the council’s contractor FCC Environment, in the first six months since the new charges came into effect – from April 1 to September 30 – there were 4,604 reported fly-tipping incidents, which is 157 or 3.5% higher than for the same period the previous year.
Trends
The council added that fly-tipping trends locally are “in line with national trends”, and said it is not seeing a change caused by its charging policy. The number of incidents involving DIY-type construction and demolition waste have not increased, the authority has claimed.
A spokesman for the Norfolk Waste Partnership said: “Norfolk follows national trends on the crime of fly-tipping, but as a county we continue to see a rise below that experienced nationally. As more than 80% of fly-tips are items which could have been taken to a recycling centre for free, we’d urge everyone to have a look at what they can take along to their local recycling centre and to carry out a few simple checks before giving their waste to anyone to dispose of.”
Norfolk is of a number of councils to have introduced charges at HWRCs in a bid to cut costs, with more coming into effect from today as the 2019/20 financial year begins.
Bucks
In Buckinghamshire, the council approved proposals earlier this year to close two of the county’s ten centres, and also introduce a fee for certain materials, as part of plans to save around £1.2 million in costs per year (see letsrecycle.com story).
The charges mean that from today residents will have to pay £2.50 per 25l bag for hardcore and soil, wood items, and some bathroom items.
Charges for tyres, asbestos and plasterboard have also been introduced.
Charges in Buckinghamshire also kick in today (pictured: Cllr Bill Chapple, Buckinghamshire council’s cabinet member for planning & environment )
Meanwhile, Kent county council is introducing charges despite some resistance to the policy locally (see letsrecycle.com story).
Last month, Spelthorne council in Surrey found a correlation between an increase in reported fly-tips since charges were brought in for residents in 2016. A report by the council said that while there is no evidence to suggest the changes in 2016 have had a direct impact, it is “reasonable to say it is possible” (see letsrecycle.com story).
The issue of charges at HWRCs is also the focus of the letsrecycle.com poll, which you can vote on here.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
