It said this week that authorities in Braintree, Colchester and Uttlesford and some parts of Chelmsford were overcharging for waste services – with Essex county council playing a “pivotal role”.
The county is to seek legal advice on the issue, it added.
The latest naming-and-shaming of councils by the Association of Charity Shops came two months after nine other authorities – including Birmingham and Norwich – were accused of overcharging charities (see letsrecycle.com story) .
Essex districts have been doubling the waste bills that charities have to pay, the Association claimed, with disposal costing individual shops an average of £400 a year that could otherwise benefit their work and services.
The Association said that under the Environmental Protection Act, charity shop waste is classed as household waste and should therefore qualify for free disposal. This was upheld by two letters sent by Defra to councils in September 2006 and October 2007, it said.
“Disgraceful”
Expressing its concerns, the Association of Charity shops suggested that Essex was using delaying tactics to justify continuing charges for the service.
David Moir, head of policy and public affairs at the Association, said: “The Government and local authorities across the country agree about how the Regulations apply. But, Essex county council continue to charge for disposal. They have been promising for six months to produce a policy paper on this, but – despite Defra's very clear letter- we are still no closer to getting a statement fro them. In the meantime, charity shops are being fleeced. This is disgraceful.”
Mr Moir added that there was “ping pong” going on between the district and county councils over who was responsible, with the districts claiming the county had insisted they charge charities for waste disposal and the county saying the districts had mistaken charity shop waste for commercial waste.
“Legal advice”
Responding to the claims, a spokesman for Essex county council said that Essex did a lot of positive work with charities and that the interpretation over charging was a national issue.
He said: “Defra has only recently issued all local authorities with its interpretation of the legislation and produced guidelines around this issue. It was this guidance that Essex County Council has been waiting for, and it has been in no way a delaying tactic on our behalf.”
Pointing out that Essex was not the only council currently dealing with the issue, the county council spokesman said: “It is important for us to now make sure we have fully evaluated the impact of the national guidelines and, as suggested by Defra, seek our own legal advice before any decisions are made. It is also important we remember that the disposal of household waste is not free and we need to ensure that we spend Essex tax payers' money wisely.”
Register for free to comment