A public consultation document published yesterday (January 22) invites views on how HWRCs at risk of closure can remain open without local authorities resorting to charging residents for the service.
An increasing number of councils in England have implemented or discussed charges for HWRC use in response to cuts to local government funding and a requirement to save money on ‘essential’ services.
But the government fears that the charges will not only inconvenience residents but also lead to an increase in instances of flytipping and backyard burning of waste.
It adds that as well as discouraging recycling, widespread charging of those seeking to deposit electrical and electronic goods at such centres would breach of the 2013 Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations.
This it claims could require the UK to establish an entirely independent collection infrastructure for WEEE – “at considerable cost to producers and taxpayers”.
The consultation claims that long-standing legislation enshrined in both the Civic Amenities Act 1967 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 require local authorities to provide free-to-use HWRCs for their residents. It also argues that residents deserve the service in return for the £122 per month council that a ‘typical’ Band D council tax household might pay.
Under proposals outlined in the document, DCLG intends to prevent local authorities charging any entry or exit fee for using a ‘discretionary HWRC’ service, as well as any fee relating to the quantity of household waste and recycling that is deposited.
Existing charges
However, the draft legislation would fall short of reversing any existing charges applied at HWRCs in case it results in site closures. These councils will have until April 2020 to make alternative arrangements for such sites.
The rules would also not prevent authorities from charging for household waste deposited by non-residents, waste delivered from commercial premises or non-household waste or recycling from both residents and non-residents.
The consultation – which is due to end on February 18 2015 – seeks views from councils, waste disposal authorities, the waste industry and the Local Government Association.
It comes as part of a long-running discussion between central government and local authorities on whether councils have a legal right to charge residents for HWRC use.
In 2011, Secretary of State Eric Pickles criticised councils in Somerset for introducing a £2 charge for residents which was labelled as ‘counter-productive’ (see letsrecycle.com story).
Norfolk
And in March 2014, Norfolk county council announced plans to introduce a £2 charge at nine of its 20 HWRCs – which also drew criticism from both Defra minister Dan Rogerson and DCLG minister Brandon Lewis (see letsrecycle.com story).
Northamptonshire county council last year consulted on plans to implement charges in order to save £128 million across its budget over five years. However, the authority opted to make changes to centre opening times instead.
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