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Fly-tipping fears as pay-per-bag charges brought in at Staffordshire rubbish tips

Charges will soon be introduced across Staffordshire for people using tips to discard non-household waste.

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The county council will bring in charges at household waste recycling centres across the county, including at Cannock, Rugeley, Stafford, Stone, Lichfield and Wombourne from November 1- a move which some councillors claim will lead to increased fly-tipping.

Under the changes, a large bag of soil or rubble will cost £3 to discard, plasterboard will cost £4 per sheet or large bag and tyres will cost £4 each.

Items such as mattresses and carpets will still be able to be taken to tips free of charge.

Gill Heath, Staffordshire County Council's cabinet member for environment and the communities, said: "Our recycling centres take domestic waste produced during normal day-to-day household life free of charge and that will continue unchanged.

"But waste generated by DIY, home improvements or extensive landscaping of gardens is not legally regarded as household rubbish and, like many other councils, we've decided to cover the cost of processing it."

The charges will apply at the council's waste recycling centres at Biddulph, Bilbrook, Burntwood, Burton, Cannock, Cheadle, Leek, Lichfield, Newcastle, Rugeley, Stafford, Stone, Uttoxeter and Wombourne.

Payment can be made at the recycling centres by debit or credit card, but not by cash, and standard 'rubble' bags, with a base measuring 76cm by 96cm, will also be available for purchase there.

The council say this type of waste brought by the public is not classed as trade waste. Asbestos will still be accepted at the Bilbrook, Burton, Cannock, Leek, Stafford and Wombourne sites designated for handling it between the hours of 1 and 3pm.

Gill Heath added: "Charging to cover the costs of disposing of such materials as soil, rubble, plasterboard and tyres will ensure that we continue to offer residents a convenient way to dispose of awkward and difficult waste.

"At the same time reducing the cost of recycling will allow us to focus on supporting the most vulnerable people in society and statutory services in Staffordshire."

Councillor Alan Dudson, who represents the Cannock area, said: "I think there is no doubt this is going to lead to increased fly-tipping, if you start charging people to get rid of their rubbish there are going to be people who won't go along with that.

"It is a difficult situation for the council and I understand that, because they are a victim of austerity measures from the Government, so it is a catch 22 situation."

Former Holmscroft ward councillor Frank James said that he dealt with many cases of fly-tipping during his time with the council and also claimed this move will increase fly-tipping.

He said: "I had been told about these changes by a neighbour and straight away I thought it was the wrong decision.

"I dealt with a lot of fly-tipping cases in my time as a councillor and I think that by charging people, the council are inadvertently encouraging fly-tipping."

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