Fees to dispose of DIY waste at recycling centres could soon be scrapped in England under plans to crackdown on fly-tipping.
At present, existing legislation means that any rubbish that is generated as a result of DIY, which includes shed or fence panels, tiles, plasterboard, paving slabs, and more, is classed as being industrial waste, even if produced at home, and this means that local councils in England and Wales are not responsible for providing free disposal points.
In 2015, the government banned charges on local residents disposing of household rubbish at household waste centres.
And while guidance made clear that this includes DIY household waste, some local councils and authorities are still able to charge for certain types of DIY material, under rules designed for construction waste.
These fees linked to disposing of DIY waste at recycling centres across the country is said to be a contributor to fly-tipping and the rise in incidents over the past two years that have occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with official figures showing that more than one million fly-tipping incidents have been recorded by local authorities in 2021.
Fees to dispose of DIY waste at recycling centres could soon be scrapped / Credit: GMCA
Now, a consultation launched by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is proposing scrapping charges for getting rid of such waste
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It’s hoped that this could deter people from the need to fly-tip.
Although different councils charge people different amounts for getting rid of DIY waste, the government believes its plans could save households as much as £10 per item.
The consultation documents read: “The government believes householders should not be charged to dispose of DIY waste… and we are proposing changes to allow householders to deposit DIY waste for free.
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“This will reduce the potential risk of fly-tipping, littering and backyard burning which create additional costs for local authorities and causes environmental issues.”
The consultation is being held online and runs until 4 July.
Featured Image – Pixabay
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Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre
Daisy Jackson
Police are trying to track down the family of a man who died after being found unresponsive outside the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.
Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.
A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.
Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.
It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.
Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.
Greater Manchester public urged to help get people ‘off the streets and on their feet’ before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.
As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.
Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.
The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.
Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.
Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.
The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.
Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.
Emily Sergeant -
11th April 2022 
