THURROCK Council’s cabinet has agreed that action needs to be taken to stop business- and trades-people illegally using the civic amenity site at Linford.
Cabinet members were told on Wednesday (19 March), “it has been noted that during the past year there has been a significant change in the patterns and volumes of waste being delivered to the site”.
A report went on: “As waste delivered to the site costs up to £105 per tonne for processing and disposal it is essential the council maintains strong controls over materials accepted, taking only those items it is the council’s duty to accept.”
Members heard that since the New Year people using the Linford tip – licensed for household waste only – had been asked to provide proof of residence in the borough and proof that the waste came from their home.
People suspected of bringing trade waste to be dumped were being challenged and the action “already shows a reduction in the volume of waste being brought to the site”.
The report adds: “The council has, for a number of years, indicated on its website that members of the public visiting the site may be required to show some form of identification such as a council tax or utility bill to gain access, and it is now proposed this rule is more rigidly enforced and those site users that are unable to comply be turned away and told to return with some evidence of residency.”
Speaking after Wednesday’s meeting, Cllr Victoria Holloway, portfolio holder for environment, said: “Asking for ID at the local tip is quite a common now and I think local residents will understand why we are starting to check up on who is using the facility.
“Thurrock residents pay their council tax and this is their civic amenity site and I am pretty sure they would not want their tax subsidising businesses or people from other boroughs using the site.
“Remembering to take ID, may be a bit inconvenient and we accept that some people will forget to bring proof with them on occasion, but the benefits for council tax payers and the environment as a whole should outweigh any inconvenience caused.“The website already has a reminder on and we have been using social media to get the message out, but the key thing to remember is, if you are going to the tip, grab your driving licence or a utility bill, actually, anything with your name and address on to prove where you live before you set off.”
This is why a certain slip road in Little Thurrock is now getting lots of fly tipping again.
prepare to see a lot more fly tipping in the area!
pretty sure fly tipping is more expensive to clear than £105 per tonne, nice work TBC