Agenda item

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submits a report, which asks the Commission for their views regarding the potential to charge for DIY waste deposited at the City’s two Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs).

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submitted a report seeking the Commission’s views on the potential to charge for DIY waste deposited at the city’s two Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs). 

The Service Development Manager (Waste Management) reminded the Commission that the Council operated two HWMCs, one at Freemans Common and one at Gypsum Close.  These Centres were not required to accept non-household waste, but the Council chose to do so.  

Household waste was defined by regulation.  As such, DIY waste was classified as commercial / industrial waste.  This led to problems with builders using the HWRCs illegally, although regular visitors to the sites were monitored. 

The Council’s financial position was such that savings needed to be made in order to safeguard services.  It was estimated that a saving of £77,000 could be achieved if a charge of £3 per bag of DIY waste was made.  Consultation on these proposals would run concurrently with the consultation on the proposed introduction of charges for bulky waste collections, (see minute 35, “Consideration of Charging for Bulky Waste Collections”, above).

Members noted that, if charges were introduced for the disposal of DIY waste, the HWRCs would continue to receive items such as large pieces of furniture free of charge.

Councillor Clarke, (Assistant City Mayor for Energy and Sustainability), explained that:

·           DIY waste referred to the type of waste a builder would be expected to produce when undertaking work on a domestic property, (for example, plasterboard, wood or kitchen units);

·           Asbestos would not be included in the charges proposed for DIY waste, to continue to encourage the safe disposal of this material; and

·           There was anecdotal evidence that waste materials which Leicestershire County Council now charged to dispose of were being diverted to city HWRCs.

The following comments were made in discussion on this report:

o    If charges for the disposal of DIY waste were not introduced, monitoring of HWRCs would have to be improved, to ensure that builders were not using them to illegally dispose of building waste;

o    It appeared that residents were being penalised by the proposed introduction of these charges due to problems in identifying people disposing of trade waste illegally at HWRCs;

o    A range of surveillance techniques were used to identify people fly-tipping building waste;

o    The introduction of any charges for the disposal of DIY waste at HWRCs would need to be accompanied by an appropriate communications plan, to ensure that residents were aware of how to access the service;

o    Hard-bonded asbestos currently was accepted free of charge at Freemans Common HWRC.  It needed to be double-bagged and was collected in a separate skip on the site.  Residents therefore needed to check before arriving at the HWRC that space was available in the skip; and

o    It was anticipated that the amount of DIY waste disposed of at the HWRCs would reduce by approximately 75% if charges for its disposal were introduced.  This was based on research undertaken with local authorities that had introduced charges for the disposal of this waste.  Therefore, if the reduction was not as large as this, more income would be generated and more savings made.

Members suggested that the Executive could be asked to consider delaying the consultation on the proposals to introduce charges for the disposal of DIY waste at HWRCs until evidence has been received of the impact of the charges introduced by Leicestershire County Council for the disposal of various types of waste.  Councillor Clarke expressed some concern that it would not be possible to achieve the looked for savings if this happened.  However, it could be possible to consider extending the consultation period, to give more time for the required evidence to be received.

RECOMMENDED:

1)    That the Executive be asked to consider delaying the consultation on proposals to introduce charges for the disposal of DIY waste at household waste recycling sites until evidence has been received of the impact of the charges introduced by Leicestershire County Council for the disposal of certain types of waste at its household waste recycling centres, with particular attention paid to city wards that are on the boundary with the county;

2)    That, before the consultation referred to under recommendation 1) above is undertaken, the Director of Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services be asked to provide the Executive with more detailed information on weaknesses in the current DIY waste disposal service, such as  fly-tipping and abuse of the system by professional builders;

3)    That the Executive be asked to include formal engagement with partner agencies in the consultation process referred to under recommendation 1) above, this to include, but not exclusively,  the City Warden service, City Council officers responsible for collecting waste from housing estates and Biffa (as the contractor);

4)    That the Executive be asked to give consideration during the consultation referred to under recommendation 1) above to options for providing free and/or reduced charge disposal of DIY waste at household waste recycling sites for residents such as, but not exclusively, the elderly or those on benefits and to make appropriate recommendations for delivering such a scheme, including whether residents should “self-declare” their status and what, if any, evidence should be provided by those residents of their status; and

5)    That, when options for charges for the disposal of DIY waste at household waste recycling sites are submitted to the Executive, improved information be included on  the potential environmental and social impact of an increase in “backyard burning” of waste materials.