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Northamptonshire clamps down on misuse of recycling centres

Northamptonshire county council expects to save 150,000 by clamping down on misuse of its household recycling centres by traders.

It also plans to bar large-scale waste arising from do-it-yourself work, even where this originated in a private house.

The authority said that a survey of its 10 household waste recycling centres had found that 19% of visitors were commercial users, who deposited up to 30% of the waste collected.

Cabinet member for the environment, Jim Wade, said: “The county council has to pay 13 in tax for each tonne of rubbish taken to landfill sites from the centres.

“It seems unfair that almost a third of that waste comes from traders, and it’s not right that public money should be used to dispose of rubbish from private businesses”.

Large-scale DIY rubbish is not considered household waste, even if it has come from a householder working on his or her own home, the council warned.

Those arriving with more than half a tonne of DIY waste will be directed to other facilities where a charge is made.

Vans and commercial vehicles will be banned from the centres, and height barriers used.

The council said that taking in trade waste gave it a significant financial burden and raised legal questions with regard to licences.

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