Rubble charge may be scrapped

CHESHIRE East might have to scrap some of its controversial rubble charges if government plans to change the rules around charging for DIY waste go ahead.

The council introduced its rubble charge in January 2018. It currently charges for all non-household items such as rubble, hard core, soil, ceramics, glass and plaster, which are dumped in the rubble skip by householders following DIY work.

But the government plans to change the rules that allow some local authorities to charge for DIY waste, meaning households will no longer have to pay to get rid of such waste.

Under the proposals, household DIYers would not be charged for items such as plasterboards, bricks and bath units.

The proposals - now being consulted on by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - are part of a fresh move to crack down on fly-tipping, which has increased since the beginning of the pandemic.

A number of councils in England will also be awarded grants to tackle fly-tipping through trial projects, including CCTV.

Environment Minister Jo Churchill said: “I want to make sure that recycling and the correct disposal of rubbish is free, accessible and easy for householders. No-one should be tempted to fly tip or turn to waste criminals and rogue operators.”

A spokesperson for the council told the Local Democracy Reporting

Service: “The council welcomes any government financial support that would help to tackle the very anti-social practice of fly-tipping.

“In Cheshire East there is no evidence to suggest that fly-tipping has increased as a result of the rubble charge, which was introduced following positive feedback from a consultation with residents in 2016-17. The council can make a charge for waste that is classed by the EA as ‘non-household’ - such as rubble, DIY and construction waste.”