Councils levy charges for DIY waste that should be free

AROUND half of councils have introduced charges of up to £200 for disposing of DIY waste despite a Government warning that it should be free.

A survey of 82 local authorities by The Sunday Telegraph found that 40 have introduced charges in recent years.

The councils argue that they need the money to deal with cuts, with Leicestershire council saying the policy will help save £500,000 a year.

The approach has prompted a backlash from residents, councillors and MPs. They say high house prices mean many residents cannot afford to move and have to make DIY improvements to their homes.

Norman Lamb, the Lib Dem MP for Norfolk, said: “If there are impediments put in the way of disposing of DIY waste, it’s all too easy for irresponsible people to leave it in a lay-by or leave it in a wood or chuck it by the side of the road, and then it becomes a burden on landowners or farmers and ruins the countryside.”

DIY waste charges include up to £200 for a van load of plasterboard by Suffolk council, £5 per sheet of glass by Norfolk council, or £23 per 100kg (220lb) of waste by Ealing council.

Cllr Martin Tett, of the Local Government Association, said: “Councils are under huge financial pressures and in England face an overall funding gap that will exceed £5billion by 2020.”

Defra said: “We have been clear through our Litter Strategy that disposing of household waste, including waste from DIY home improvement projects, should be free of charge.”