Permit scheme to restrict trade waste
Transcript of video
Voiceover narrator (not seen on screen)
Most people in Hampshire use one of the County’s Household Waste recycling Centres. Often known as the “tip” or the “dump”, they’re very useful for getting rid of all kinds of domestic junk – anything from rotting fence panels, to old books and magazines, or the debris from a DIY job. There are 26 sites like this one in Winchester, spread across Hampshire. They take in more than 250,000 tonnes of waste every year – 60% of which is recycled. Four and a half million people use the sites, which can get very busy, especially when traders bring in commercial van loads of waste from their businesses. So, from February, Hampshire County Council is introducing new controls to stop trade waste coming in.
Councillor Mel Kendal, Executive Member for the Environment:
The traders that are using this are actually costing us an extra million pounds a year in terms of landfill taxes and handling, on what is really a domestic refuse site. It’s for household waste.
Narrator:
What about the traders who used to come here, or to other sites. What do they do?
Councillor Mel Kendal
We will be publishing quite extensive lists of trade waste sites that are available for traders so that there will be no excuse for them not to take their trade waste there. I think the point to stress is that we will come down very hard on anyone who does fly-tip, so it is up to the commercial operators of trade waste to understand where they should be taking their waste, and they should be taking that to the correct place.
Narrator
Householders who happen to have a van rather than a car can still use the sites to dump genuine domestic waste, provided they have one of these special permits.
Councillor Mel Kendal
It has their vehicle registration number, and the colour and make of their vehicle, and it’s valid until the expiry date and can be renewed thereafter. Each time they visit we will be recording the visit on the reverse of the permit, just to make sure that no one is trying to pretend that they are a domestic user when actually they are a trader and coming in every second or third day.
Narrator
The new trade waste controls are also welcome news for the site operators, like Christine Hopkins, of Hopkins Recycling Limited.
Christine Hopkins
Our job here is for the public, and we get a lot of queues, massive big vans, big trailers, and genuine members of the public with a car can come and unload in five or ten minutes. Some of these vans can take half an hour to unload, and we’re sure a lot of it is trade waste. We’re not licensed to accept trade waste at these sites, so they shouldn’t be coming through the gates. With these permits, hopefully we’ll be able to just cut it out.
Narrator
But what will the changes mean for the day to day users of the site, Hampshire’s householders?
Member of the public 1
I think it is a good idea to stop traders. It’s crazy to let people in who just throw tonnes upon tonnes of waste away, so yes I think it’s a good thing.
Member of the public 2
Yes, if the domestic users can get to it more easily, yes.
Narrator
The new trade waste controls take affect from 14 February 2008. If you think you need a permit, you can apply for one now, by calling 0845 603 5634, or by visiting the website . If you have any questions, you can ask for a leaflet at your local site. The new arrangements should make visits to the tip quicker and easier, while continuing to ensure that Hampshire has one of the best records in the country for recycling household waste, and thus avoiding landfill.
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