Derbyshire council is among the latest in a string of local authorities to propose a clamp-down on the use of household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) by residents from other counties, in plans out for consultation.
The local authority put forward proposals to cut its annual £37 million waste management budget by £4 million by April 2019 in August, which includes a restriction on the use of HWRCs. Residents have until the end of October to have their say on the plans.
Cllr George Wharmby opening Derbyshire’s Northwood HWRC in 2011
The council currently has a network of nine HWRC sites at Ashbourne, Ilkeston, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Loscoe, Bretby, Glossop and Northwood, which are run by the Shanks and Interserve partnership – Resource Recovery Solutions (Derbyshire) – and at Buxton – run by Suez.
Proposals for slashing costs at the sites includes only allowing Derbyshire residents to use the facilities. The council claims that this would make sure it is not ‘picking up the cost of dealing with waste from outside the county’ and would involve residents providing proof of address on arrival at sites.
The move would save an estimated £100,000 to £200,000 per year, the council claims.
Also being considered by the local authority is a permitting system for vans, trailers and pickups entering sites – which would cut overall costs by an estimated £40,000 – or a potential charge for bringing non-household waste such as soil, bricks and rubble onto sites – which could create an estimated £160,000 per year saving.
Cuts
Derbyshire’s cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure Councillor Dean Collins, said: “We’ll continue to encourage people to reduce the amount of waste they produce and recycle and compost more to help cut costs. But neighbouring councils have already introduced similar schemes to prevent people living outside their area from using their recycling centres and so it makes sense for us to consider doing the same.
“The law says we must provide a place for residents to take their household waste free of charge but we don’t have to accept non-household waste, business waste or waste from outside Derbyshire. These proposals will help us to cut our costs while still continuing to provide a good quality service for our residents and save around £300,000 a year.”
In recent weeks, letsrecycle.com has reported on other authorities seeking to clamp down on the use of HWRCs by ‘out-of-county’ users – including Somerset, which is to enforce a stricter permitting regime at sites (see letsrecycle.com story).
The issue of cross-boundary HWRC-usage has also reached a flash point in Hampshire and West Berkshire where the use of sites has been under close scrutiny.
West Berkshire’s portfolio holder for communities councillor Marcus Franks had written to Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom to voice concerns over the issue – which he claimed is likely to be happening around the country (see letsrecycle.com).
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
