Bucks proposes HWRC cuts and charges

Buckinghamshire council has launched a consultation into proposed “cost-saving” measures across the county’s household waste recycling centres (HWRC), including the introduction of new charges.

If approved, the charges would apply to all 10 HWRCs across Buckinghamshire, for residents disposing of “non-household waste” materials, such as rubble, soil, plasterboard and car tyres.

Bucks county council is proposing changes to the way it operates its HWRCs, including the Aston Clinton site, near Aylesbury

The amounts charged have not yet been decided by the council, but are likely to be reflective of amounts charged by other local authorities.

Measures

This is just one of a number of measures being looked at by the council to reduce costs, as funding reductions in the public sector “continue to bite,” the council said.

Other proposals include permanently closing at least one HWRC and reducing opening days. The council’s HWRCs are operated by FCC.

The consultation comes as the council said it will have approximately £1.2 million less to spend annually from April 2019.

According to Buckinghamshire county council, national figures show that in comparison with other areas, Buckinghamshire has a “much higher number of sites” serving its population. In addition, centres currently take certain waste like rubble, soil, plasterboard and car tyres for free where other councils make a variety of disposal charges, it says.

‘Necessary step’

Buckinghamshire county council cabinet member for planning and environment, Bill Chapple OBE, said the review was a “reluctant but necessary step.”

He explained: “We have an extremely tough budget to meet from April 2019 onwards and this means facing up to some difficult decisions. There definitely needs to be changes, but my overall aim is to retain a service that still works for the majority of people going forward.

“There are some preferred options that we are setting out in the consultation. Realistically, without these, we’re not going to get anywhere near our financial savings target.”

Charges

“We’re also proposing to introduce charging at all sites for specific waste that we don’t legally have to accept for free,” Cllr Chapple said. “I have taken into account the fact that less than a third of waste falls into this category, so the charges won’t affect everyone and it also brings us into line with what other councils do.”

Bill Chapple, cabinet member for planning and environment

In the Litter Strategy, the Government suggests that charging for waste at HWRCs “can inconvenience residents and make disposing of their waste more difficult. There is also a risk these charges can be counterproductive and simply transfer costs to dealing with additional fly‑tipping and littering.”

The Government has pledged to work with WRAP to review current guidance and make clear what can and cannot be charged for at HWRCs, including in respect of DIY waste.

Cross-border use

Cllr Chapple added that the council is also seeking views from residents about people from outside the county using Buckinghamshire’s recycling centres, “which is of course an extra cost to local county taxpayers.”

Measures to prevent cross-border HWRC use have been introduced by a number of authorities as a way to reduce council costs.

Last week, letsrecycle.com reported that Greenwich council is toughening its stance on accepting waste at its HWRCs from residents of neighbouring boroughs, which require residents to show proof of address when visiting the centres (see letsrecycle.com story).

The consultation runs until October 22. A series of drop-in events is also planned in local libraries to provide further details about the proposals. The final decision will be taken by the council’s cabinet later in the year.