Cornwall Tackling Illegal Trade Waste At HWRCs

27 January 2011

Cornwall Council looks set to save over £1m a year through a new system of keeping track of vehicles that use the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs). The new system will help to prevent businesses in Cornwall using the centres to get rid of their trade waste. Some traders are continuing to abuse the system by bringing in commercial waste and presenting it as coming from householders.

Research shows that, on average,trade waste accounts for around 13 percent of all wastes deposited at HWRCs. From 1 February 1 permits will be issued to drivers of vehicles such as vans or vehicles with trailers that are over 3m in internal length allowing them to make 12 visits to HWRCs throughout the year.

Julian German, Cornwall Council cabinet member for Waste Management, said: "Last year around 80000 tonnes of waste was deposited at our household waste recycling centres. If 13 percent of this was trade waste it means that 10000 tonnes was deposited illegally - costing the Council and tax payers in Cornwall around £1.16m to deal with."

"The introduction of a permit system limiting the frequency of use of vans to 12 times a year with a ban on the use of large trailers will help us significantly reduce trade waste abuse at our household waste recycling centres," said Cllr German. "This will enable us to save around £1 million of taxpayers' money at the same time as protecting these valuable facilities for people in Cornwall to use for disposing of their household waste and recycling."

Helen Amos