How much are new charges at Kent rubbish tips? Everything you need to know
Published: 12:50, 03 June 2019
Updated: 11:12, 07 June 2019
From now on if you use a rubbish tip in the county - you need to be armed with cash - or your ID.
Today marks the start of new rules at refuse centres run by Kent County Council which will charge residents for dumping non-household waste.
Meanwhile, if you live in Medway, you will not be allowed to drop waste at tips without a form of identification.
County councillors endorsed plans to charge residents despite 85% of people disagreeing with the idea.
In January, members of KCC's environment and transport cabinet committee signalled their support for the introduction of fees at the household waste and recycling centres it manages for rubble and soil by 9-2.
KCC run 18 tips across the county, which collect around 185,000 tonnes of waste, costing around £10 million to the taxpayer, but Medway Council runs its three sites in the Towns.
In a bid to save money, KCC is now charging £4 per bag for soil, rubble and hardcore and £6 per bag of plasterboard if they are dumped at their tips.
The move went against the views of people across the county when KCC ran a consultation.
Around 2,300 people disagreed with the plans due to fear of increased fly-tipping.
However, a survey of other local authorities which already charge for this waste found there had been no impact on fly-tipping in their areas.
In 2012, KCC introduced charges for tyres at their sites and since then, there has not been a hike in people dumping waste.
After it was announced KCC would introduce the charges, bosses at Medway Council suggested its own sites would remain free but only for people who lived in the Towns and had ID to prove it.
However, it later announced the unitary authority would not be charging people living outside of Medway to use the three tips in Capstone, Cuxton and Gillingham.
So it was decided from today, for the next 18 months, Kent residents can use the three Medway tips thus avoiding charges for dumping certain waste at tips run by KCC.
The change in policy came about due to ongoing discussions between the two authorities.
From today, everyone will need to bring one form of ID to use the Medway centres and their full postcodes will be recorded to enable the council to identify and monitor usage by KCC residents.
This ID could be a council tax bill from the current financial year or a driving licence (a photocard or paper licence will be accepted) or a utility bill (gas, electric or water) less than a year old or a TV licence less than a year old.
Other forms of ID which will be accepted are bank or building society statement less than a year old, a benefits award statement less than a year old and letters from HMRC or the Home Office less than a year old.
Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Alan Jarrett, said: “Monday, June 3 was the first day of changes at our three household waste and recycling centres; customers using the sites are asked to bring ID with them and all three of our sites remain free to use.
"Our sites were busy throughout the day and we’d like to thank residents for their co-operation.
“We are pleased we were able to come to an agreement with Kent County Council so that Kent residents can continue to use Medway’s household waste and recycling centres.”
Staff at Medway’s tips will ask people to show their identification at the entrance of each site from now on.
Medway Council will have to make changes to the entrance of its three centres, to ensure the identification process runs smoothly.
The Capstone centre, in Shawstead Road, Lordwood, was closed, but reopened on Friday, May 31.
The Cuxton Waste and Recycling Centre, in Sundridge Hill, Strood, is currently closed to allow the changes being made to its entrance and is expected to be reopened in about two weeks.
The Hoath Way centre, in Ambley Way, Gillingham, is open and an announcement about its closure to allow its entrance to be changed will be announced in due course.
Medway’s centres offer an easy way to recycle as residents can dispose of more than 30 types of materials including scrap metal, wood and clothing.
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Lynn Cox