No fee for people disposing of building waste from DIY projects at Hampshire County Council tips
Residents disposing of building waste from their DIY projects will no longer have to pay to dispose of it at Hampshire’s tips – but it comes at a cost to the county council.
The move follows new government rules which prohibit local authorities from charging for small amounts of building waste at their sites.
Charges for soil, rubble, plasterboard and asbestos have been in place since October 2016, with residents expected to pay £3 per part or whole standard rubble bag, £3 per individual item, £6 per classic rubble bag or part bag, or £10 per sheet or part sheet. For a sheet of cement-bonded asbestos they are required to pay £12.
The change will “reduce the burden” carrying out such work can have financially, in what Hampshire County Council calls “these challenging times”.
Cllr Nick Adams-King, executive lead member for universal services at HCC, said: “The removal of charges at HWRCs will be welcome news for those who are undertaking DIY projects, as it reduces the cost burden in these challenging times.”
However, Cllr Adams-King added: “While it is clearly positive for householders, we do estimate the removal of fees from January could impose an additional cost to Hampshire council taxpayers of up to £2m a year.”
The council says this was due to most of the building waste, including asbestos, needing specialist processing. Efford tip in Lymington is one of only five Hampshire tips able to accept cement-bonded asbestos.
The amount allowed to be dumped for free will, according to the council, “broadly equate to that of an average car boot”.
From the new year it says up to two 50-litre rubble bags, or one item such as a toilet, can be taken to a dump with no charge. Residents will be allowed to make four such visits over four weeks.
There will also be checks to ensure “unscrupulous” tradesmen do not try to use the free service.
Residents must have an appointment to visit the tips, and from 1st January will be asked to confirm if they are depositing household DIY when making their online booking.
