Residents Passes Needed to Use East Riding Tips from Next Month

Thursday, 9 September 2021 08:08

By Joe Gerrard, Local Democracy Reporter

An East Riding Council survey of waste tip users has found up to one in five came from outside ahead of the launch of residents’ passes.

East Riding Council’s Environment and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee heard an average of 12 per cent of those using six tips closest to bordering authorities were not local residents.

Council streetscene services boss Paul Tripp told the committee the survey done in August found the proportion of non-residents using East Riding tips reached 19 per cent at its highest.

It comes as East Riding residents will have to show passes to get into the council’s 10 household waste and recycling sites from Friday, October 1.

Councillors heard the A5 paper passes were recently mailed to 158,000 properties in the run up to their launch.

Mr Tripp told the committee the council had “long suspected” non-residents were using local tips meaning East Riding locals were effectively subsidising waste disposal costs for them.

He added the cost of disposing of residual non-recyclable waste was currently about £100 per tonne, making it “very expensive” for the council to handle rubbish from non-residents.

Mr Tripp also said the disposal costs were part of the reason why officers decided against letting non-residents buy permits to use tips.

Councillors also heard concerns raised by the eight responses to a consultation on the passes included the impact on those living in caravan parks who do not pay council tax.

The committee heard they were recommended to speak to caravan park owners about arrangements and would be able to arrange bulky waste collections either through the council or privately.

Officers said those arriving at tips from elsewhere would be allowed to leave waste but will be told to use sites in their districts in future at first.

Councillors heard leeway was being allowed to begin with to stop fly-tipping if they are turned away and known dumping spots near tips would be monitored.

Utility bills, driving licences and council tax receipts will also be accepted following concerns that some may lose the pass or mistake it for a leaflet and throw it away.

The pass will let residents use any one of the 10 tips, not just those closest to them.

Mr Tripp said:

“We believe the pass is the right thing for our residents at this time, it’s about being pragmatic with them.

“Neighbouring authorities all have various restrictions in place at their tips, either passes, charging to dispose of some types of waste or closing on certain days.

“Our survey in August found a significant number of those using tips were non-East Riding residents.

“Residents were subsidising disposals from those non-resident users.

“Fly-tipping in the East Riding is always robustly monitored and cases are investigated and those responsible prosecuted if we have enough information to identify them.

“We have no intention to introduce charges at our sites.”