The Somerset Waste Partnership will meet tomorrow (March 25) to discuss introducing a charge for residents to use four of its household waste and recycling centres which are currently at risk of closure.
The Partnership which represents Somerset county council and five district and borough councils is proposing a 2.50 charge for residents to use four centres at Crewkerne, Coleford, Dulverton and Middlezoy.
The four sites in question have been subject to fierce local debate and demonstrations since it emerged in November 2010 that Somerset county council was set to close the facilities in order to help achieve 43 million in savings in its 2011/12 budget (see letsrecycle.com story).
In order to introduce a charge, the Partnership would have to redefine the legal status of the sites to Community Recycling Sites, which is said to be a key point of contention at the forthcoming meeting.
However, the Somerset Waste Partnership is said to be wary of a potential legal challenge arising from the change of definition and charging scheme.
Steve Read, managing director of the Partnership, said: This is a new approach and it could result in a legal challenge. But because the idea was suggested by residents in the areas affected, in preference to closure, its hard to see who might object so strongly.
Legal
The change in legal status would be required as to not clash with Section 51(1)(b) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
The Act states that waste disposal authorities such as the Somerset Waste Partnership must provide places at which persons resident in its area may deposit their household waste and for the disposal of waste so deposited.
And, under Section 51 (2)(c) it states that these sites must be made available free of charge.
Additional charges would also be introduced for the disposal of gas bottles, tyres, soil and rubble. These charges would operate on a sliding scale depending on volume of material.
Measures
In addition to the charging scheme, the Somerset Waste Partnership also intends to reduce the opening hours of all 18 household waste and recycling centres and community recycling centres in its network. This would see working weeks cut by two days.
The opening hours would also be reduced from 56 hours-a-week in the winter and 70 hours-a-week in the summer to a year-round standard of 40 hours. Closures of sites would be staggered to ensure not all locations are closed at the same time.
If approved by the Somerset Waste Partnerships board, the charging proposal, alongside reduced opening hours, would be included in a comprehensive savings package being rolled out by the county council set to start from April 4 2011.
The introducing of charging is estimated to help generate 1.9 million required by Somerset county council to retain the four sites.
Councillor Ken Maddock, leader of Somerset county council, said: There has been tremendous support for the recycling centres from local residents and many people have suggested that charging should be introduced to keep them open.
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