New charges for waste challenged

CONSERVATIVES on Plymouth City Council are challenging a decision to introduce charges for disposal of some types of waste.

They have requested the move by the Labour-controlled council is called in for a review, arguing that the extra costs will hit families and businesses already suffering due to the pandemic.

The new fees are due to come in at the Chelson Meadow household waste recycling centre from January 26 for soil, rubble, plasterboard and asbestos.

The Conservative spokesperson for environment Maddi Bridgeman is leading the challenge to the decision, which will be discussed at a meeting today. Her call-in request, co-signed by group leader Nick Kelly and councillor Terri Beer, argues the charges are effectively a cut to a service paid for by council tax and will increase fly-tipping.

The council says the money saved will help tackle the “unprecedented financial challenges” it is facing, the fees will almost completely cover the £140,000 annual cost of disposing of the materials, and other councils charge for the service. It says the items only account for a fraction of fly-tipping.

The Conservative group’s call-in statement said: “Along with the refusal to reinstate bulky waste collection, this decision again will add to an increase in fly tipping and the cost to clear this up along with the processes to collect payment could outweigh the fees actually collected.”

The planned charges are soil and rubble £2.40 per bag or item, plasterboard £6 per bag or sheet, and bonded asbestos £11 per bag or sheet.