Cornwall fly-tipping increase after waste centre charge
New waste charges are confusing and leading to an increase in fly-tipping, according to a Cornwall councillor.
Fly-tipping incidents are up by a third since charges were introduced at household waste and recycling centres, Cornwall Council figures show.
Redruth councillor, Lisa Dolley, said a lot of the items being tipped were free to recycle anyway.
The council says the number of tipping incidents were variable but there had been an increase following new charges.
There were 837 incidents of fly-tipping between September and December 2013, this rose to 1,119 for the same period in 2014 when charges were introduced.
Ms Dolley said there was evidence the charges should be dropped.
She said: "I am not sure what the public perception is at the moment, I think it is one of utter confusion.
"I don't think people have it clear in their minds what is chargeable and what isn't."
Ms Dolley, who represents Redruth North - an area that has seen the number of incidents almost double - said: "I have reported three incidents in the past three weeks myself."
Cornwall waste charges
- Soil/rubble - £1.75 per sack
- Plasterboard - £4.40 per sheet
- Asbestos (bonded type only) - £10.10 per sheet
- Tyres - £3.20 each. Commercial and agricultural vehicle tyres not to be accepted. No charge for bicycle tyres
In a statement, Cornwall Council said: "There has been an increase in fly-tipping incidents since the charges came in.
"In the main, the type of waste that is fly tipped is waste that can be taken to and disposed of free of charge at the Household Waste Recycling Centres."
Cornwall councillor Mark Kaczmarek, who campaigned against the original charges plan, said in July that the decision to charge was the "worst thought out charging policy in recent times".
After finding out the latest figures he said: "This impacts on the whole environment, it isn't just an eyesore, you have wildlife that could get caught in some of the waste."
Alan Blamey, from Gwennap Parish Council, said fly-tipping was happening on a weekly basis, with three or four incidents per week in his parish alone.
He said it was clear the increase in the number of incidents was linked to the introduction of charges at the recycling centres.