Council told ID scheme at recycling centres has been big success

Angus Council urged to implement protocol used in East Renfrewshire and hailed as 'effective tool'

East Renfrewshire Council has told its Angus counterparts that bringing in ID checks at its skips has been an overwhelming success.

The council asked service users to provide ID to discourage rogue users and the checks have had a “significant impact on tonnage rates and, in turn, costs”.

Angus Council has been asked to look at the possibility of introducing similar restrictions because of increased usage from people living outside the area.

Angus sites have been closing at peak times to empty full skips as a result of increased traffic from Dundee and surrounding areas using vans which are restricted in the number of visits they can make to their own recycling yards.

An East Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “In response to rising tonnages at our recycling centres we made the decision to tighten up and reinforce existing rules which ask service users to provide identification.

“This is to ensure our centres are only being used by the residents and council tax payers of East Renfrewshire and, at the same time, discourage rogue users.

“The checks have had a significant

“Checks, as done in other councils, can save taxpayers and ensure our local recycling centres are available to those who ultimately are paying for them. COUNCILLOR BRADEN DAVY

impact on tonnage rates and, in turn, costs and have been overwhelmingly supported by our residents.”

Late last year East Renfrewshire Council introduced stringent ID checks at Barrhead Recycling Centre in an effort to combat ineligible use of the facilities. All vehicles visiting the site must be able to provide proof of an address in East Renfrewshire.

Forfar Conservative councillor Braden Davy said the evidence “shows that checks can be an effective tool in ensuring taxpayers in Angus get value for money”.

He said: “Recently Dundee Council introduced a permit system for residents who use trailers or vans at their recycling centres. This allows only 12 visits per year for Dundee residents.

“This has meant a large increase in people with trailers and vans using our recycling centres from Dundee, as across Angus no such checks are in force and anyone can use our centres freely.

“The story in East Renfrewshire shows that checks can be an effective tool in ensuring taxpayers in Angus get value for money. At a minimum, we should look to check those who wish to bring residential trailers and vans into our centres, to ensure an overflow from Dundee does not end up costing taxpayers in Angus, and closing our centres.

“Angus residents can’t take trailers into Dundee freely, but Dundee residents can in Angus.

“Checks, as done in other councils, can save taxpayers and ensure our local recycling centres are available to those who ultimately are paying for them.”

Angus Council currently has no plans to enforce restrictions on the use of recycling centres based on residency.

gstrachan@thecourier.co.uk

Picture: Paul Smith.