Residents have been able to deposit DIY waste on a PAYT basis at Norfolk’s major recycling centres for almost eight years under a charge based on the size of their vehicle.
Under the new PAYT system, residents will pay a charge to deposit DIY waste according to the amount or type of waste they bring on site.
Norfolk reasons that the new system is intended to ensure that the amount residents pay for getting rid of their DIY waste will “more accurately reflect the type and amount of waste they bring to the site”.
Under the system, residents will still be able to deposit one large item (such as a door or bath), or one 80-litre sack (such as of tiles) free of charge. Other items will be assessed by site staff and prices decided according to a guide price set out by the council.
Prices
Prices range from £45.60 for rubble in a “large car” or £22.80 in a “small car” (see Norfolk prices).
Users are likely to pay less if they segregate different types of waste.
Eight sites will be included in the new PAYT regime including Ketteringham, Mile Cross, King’s Lynn, Mayton Wood and Dereham.
Councillor Toby Coke, chairman of Norfolk county council’s environment, development and transport committee said: “Our new PAYT pricing trial is designed to help make sure the DIY waste service covers its costs better.
“As a pilot scheme, we will be keeping it under review, but it is first and foremost intended to be fairer – both to the resident who wants to use the service, by charging them more accurately for the waste they bring, and to the wider council taxpaying community, by ensuring they aren’t subsidising the cost of other people’s home improvement projects.
“And with the added emphasis on encouraging people to sort their waste, we hope that the trial will increase the amount of recycling in the county by ensuring that as much recyclable waste as possible is sent off for reprocessing and re-use in good condition.”
Charges will also be related to prices in the commercial waste and recycling sector, resulting in possible changes in the amount that is charged over time.
Trade Waste service
Alongside the new PAYT system, the council is introducing a new paid-for ‘Trade Waste’ service at all of the HWRCs except for the Mile Cross site. The new system will see trade waste accepted from businesses such as house clearance and cleaning companies, professional gardeners and charities for the first time.
The council says that the new regime is aimed at providing an ‘accessible facility’ where businesses can dispose of waste materials currently accepted at recycling centres from householders such as green waste and construction and demolition waste.
Mr Coke added: “The new trade waste service is also designed to support small organisations in Norfolk who may find it difficult to access affordable ways of getting rid of the relatively small amount of waste they generate.
“We also hope it will help increase the amount of waste that is properly recycled and disposed of in Norfolk.”
It is hoped that the new Trade Waste service will generate a new revenue stream helping to support the current recycling service in the county. Estimations for the first year are around £10,000 but are expected to increase as more small traders utilise the system.
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