Gloucestershire County Council is considering introducing charges for residents disposing of larger quantities of DIY waste at its Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) as part of plans to make the service more financially sustainable.
No final decision has been made, with the proposals due to be scrutinised before being considered by the council’s Cabinet.
Under the plans, residents would continue to be able to dispose of small amounts of DIY waste free of charge. This includes up to two 50-litre rubble bags per visit or one item measuring no more than 2,000mm x 750mm x 750mm, with a maximum of four visits in any four-week period.
Charges would only apply if those limits are exceeded during a visit or if residents make more than four DIY waste visits within four weeks. The proposals apply only to household DIY waste, with commercial waste continuing to be excluded from HRCs.
The council says the changes would create a fairer system by ensuring residents who generate larger volumes of DIY waste contribute towards the cost of disposal, while maintaining free access for most householders.
Cabinet Member for Nature, Climate and Waste Reduction, Councillor Ashley Bowkett, said: “Most residents only produce small amounts of DIY waste, and under the proposals that will continue to be free to dispose of. This approach is about fairness – ensuring those using the service the most contribute to the cost, while protecting it for everyone.
“We recognise this would be a significant change for some residents, but similar approaches are already in place across many other parts of the country.”
The council says any income generated would be reinvested into local services and improvements at recycling centres, including enhancements to the existing booking and payment system. It says the booking system has significantly reduced queues, with same-day or next-day appointments available in most cases.
Council officials also say there is no evidence that charging for larger volumes of DIY waste increases fly-tipping, with research suggesting most fly-tipped waste is linked to illegal waste operators rather than householders.
If approved, the council says it will monitor the impact of the changes, including customer feedback, waste volumes, recycling rates and any wider effects, before making any further adjustments.
Further details would be provided ahead of any implementation if the proposals receive approval.
