The unitary council will also introduce a permit scheme for householders who take their waste to local recycling centres in vans or trailers and is hoping to forge agreements with neighbouring councils to stop cross-border dumping by contractors.
Councillors are concerned at an increase in the number of incidents where staff who queried drivers dumping large volumes of building waste at recycling centres have faced the threat of verbal and sometimes physical abuse.
”There has been a particular problem with traders coming into Bath and North Somerset from neighbouring areas. “
– Kate Hobson, Bath & NES council
The council has now issued a blunt warning that: “Violence, aggression, threatening behaviour or harassment towards council employees is unacceptable and will not be tolerated” and said that it will investigate cases where commercial waste is found at the centres.
Waste management officer Kate Hobson said: “We have seen a notable increase in the tonnage of construction waste being taken to recycling centres over the last year or so and there has been a particular problem with traders coming into Bath and North Somerset from neighbouring areas.”
Increase
In the first six months of the 2004/05 financial year there was an increase of 1,700 tonnes in the amount of waste arising at the Bath, Keynsham and Radstock recycling centres and Ms Hobson said: “This is much higher increase than we could expect just from domestic users.
“We are obviously keen to encourage residents to make full use of our recycling centres but we are also aware that we need to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and make sure the centres are being properly used.”
The waste limits and permit schemes will come into operation from Tuesday, 2 May to reinforce the council's commitment to promote recycling and waste reduction as well as to stop commercial traders dodging disposal fees for demolition and construction debris.
One of the best unitary councils in the country for recycling, Bath and North Somerset currently has a recycling rate of 28% of its household waste and has set a target of 50% by 2008. The council has a long term aim of eliminating waste in the district altogether through its “zero waste” pledge.
“These new schemes are just part of a package of measures to boost recycling,” said Ms Hobson.
Permits
There will be no charges for householders taking a van or large trailer to any of the council's three recycling centres – but they will need to apply for a special permit which will be valid for up to 12 visits.
Drivers of any van, small lorry or large trailer drivers will need to show a permit before they can enter a recycling site and the scheme also covers small service vans, estate vans, transit-style vans, box vans, pick-ups and flat-bed vehicles.
People driving cars, people carriers, large 4×4 cars, camper vans, small trailers – smaller than 1.8m long by 1.2m wide (approximately 6ft by 4ft) or with less than 2 axles will not be charged.
Limit
The amount of construction and demolition waste from small-scale DIY work will be limited to just one cubic metre – an average sized car boot or small trailer – but the council is also pointing out that it does not have a duty to provide a free disposal for fencing panels, bricks concrete slabs plasterboard roofing materials or soil which is classed as industrial waste.
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Householders with larger amounts of waste are being advised to take it to the chargeable weighbridge sites at Bath and Midsomer Norton or to contact a private company that offers waste disposal services.
The council is also recommending that checks should be made before any home improvements go ahead to make sure that contractors have proper plans are for recycling or disposing of building waste and that the full costs are included in their quotations.
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