Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Fly-tipping warning after small vans ban
Vans, trailers, flatbeds, minibuses can’t use recycle centres
A furious business owner has blasted the council’s decision not to allow small vans to use North Lanarkshire recycling centres.
And he believes the new policy from the local authority will only encourage flytipping in picturesque settings around the countryside surrounding the region.
The man, who asked not to be named, said: “This is absolute madness.
“There is a message on the Environmental Health telephone number advising of this but it has been very quiet and not made public.
“The bin collections have been reduced, also the annual three free uplifts have changed and more or less they want £100 per uplift which is disgraceful considering home owners pay full Council Tax.
“I contacted a local councillor who simply said it’s SEPA who have introduced these new rules due to people outwith North Lanarkshire using our recycling centres and that there is nothing she could do.
“I find that to be disgraceful as this is a serious matter that will affect everyone within North Lanarkshire.
“I have a small van which I bought to take items to the skip as I enjoy gardening and don’t like to depend on anyone to take rubbish away or have to pay for an uplift of £100.
“There are elderly and less fortunate people also who will be asked to pay £100 for uplifts which is not right.”
The council insists its recycling centres are not for commercial use and that any vans, trailers, flatbeds or minibuses are not allowed access to any recycling centre.
Only small, two-wheeled trailers less than 1.5 metres in length will be allowed on site.
However, they must pre-book their visit and will be inspected by the site attendant to ensure the waste is not commercial.
The man added: “I think it’s a really serious issue. I don’t see the difference between a car and a small van.
“To me this is going to be brought in under the radar. This will only increase fly-tipping and it’s already a major problem.”
In response, a council spokeswoman said: “The council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres operate for residents to dispose of waste from their homes, however we have increasingly experienced businesses trying to dispose of commercial waste at the centres.
“Our recycling centres are not permitted to accept commercial waste, and it is the responsibility of businesses to dispose of their own waste and bear the costs involved, and not the council.
“As a result, we have had to impose restrictions on vehicles entering the centres.
“Vans, large trailers, flatbed vehicles and minibuses are not allowed to access the centres. Only small, two-wheeled trailers are allowed and they must pre-book their visit.
“Any residents who hire a van to dispose of household waste must pre-book their visit and on arrival provide the hire agreement and two forms of identification. Staff at the centres will inspect the waste to ensure it is domestic.
“Households are entitled to three free special uplifts a year for up to 10 household items or 20 rubbish bags; a charge of £100 is only applied when there is a significant amount of rubbish, such as materials from a bathroom or kitchen refurbishment, windows and doors, and builder’s rubble.”
This will only increase fly-tipping