Changes to the Waste Management Licensing exemption process for England and Wales are due out later this year. If current proposals go ahead it would mean that composters processing up to 400 tonnes of material at any one time will be charged for registering an exemption.
The charge would be 518 in the first year and 440 for each additional year. Defra has told the sector that there will be a 'middle bracket' for groups processing up to 10 tonnes at any one time, but has not said what reduction in cost this would involve.
Referring to the fee for the middle bracket, CCN, which represents 250 community compost groups, said that 'ea;rly indications are that it could be well in excess of 300″. This would mean that groups processing smaller amounts of organic waste will face “disproportionately higher charge in terms of a cost per tonne, despite the 'middle bracket'.”
The group went on to explain that by processing an average of 10 tonnes of green waste at any one time around 50-60 tonnes of material would be treated over a year. And a 300 plus charge, it said, would still mean composters in this bracket would faced with increased operating costs of 6 per tonne.
CCN co-ordinator, Nick McAllister said the proposals were particularly unfair because many local authorities do not pay recycling credits to community compost groups and that the composters do no generate any income to pay charges with. They are funded in the main by grants.
“This is a tragic situation,” said Mr McAllister. “Community composting groups are striving hard to improve the social and environmental situation in their local communities in both urban and rural areas.
“Smaller groups have always struggled financially despite the real value and importance of their work. I am very worried that a large number of these groups will be forced to close because they can not afford to pay this charge.”
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