Council Decides to consider issue of charging for non-Household Waste

Cheshire West and Chester Council has decided not to implement any charges at this time, but to include any issues on charging for non-household waste at its Household Waste Recycling Centres within its current review of the centres themselves.

The Council’s decision follows discussion of the issue considered at a Places Overview & Scrutiny Meeting held on 11 April 2022, where Members of the Scrutiny Committee reviewed information regarding the options to implement charging for some types of waste received at the HWRCs (such as soil, rubble and hardcore from building work) to cover the increasing costs of disposal and processing of these types of material.

The Council has decided it will await the outcome of its own review of its HWRCs in considering the issue of charging for industrial waste as well as the outcome of a DEFRA consultation launched today (11 April 2022) on DIY waste disposal charges and booking systems at Household Waste Recycling Centres. The Council will be considering all options as part of its refresh of the current contract in place and the awarding of the new HWRC contract.

Councillor Karen Shore, Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, said: “The Council is clear in its environmental ambitions, and It is important that we have a system in our borough for disposing of non-household waste that helps us to deliver these in an efficient and effective way.

“We are already reviewing the effectiveness and impact of our Household Waste Recycling Centres and will reach any decisions on charging as part of that. Today, DEFRA has also launched its own consultation on how this subject is dealt with nationally. We are keen to contribute to this and to achieve the best outcomes for the people of Cheshire West and Chester.”