Gloucestershire County Council has approved charges for disposing of “excess” DIY waste at the county’s household recycling centres, with the new fee structure expected to be implemented next year.
Residents will benefit from a generous free allowance, permitting the disposal of up to eight 50-litre bags of DIY waste per month at no cost. However, charges will apply for any waste exceeding this allowance, particularly rubble, plasterboard, soil, and other home improvement materials.
The agreed fees are as follows: an additional 50-litre bag of bricks, rubble or stones will cost £5 each; large paving slabs will be charged at £2.50 each; breeze blocks or small paving slabs will incur a £1 charge each. Disposal of a 20-litre bag of tiles or larger items such as baths, basins, toilet cisterns, kitchen units, shower trays, or cabinets will cost £2.50 per item. A 50-litre bag of plasterboard will be charged at £10.
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The council anticipates that these charges will generate a net revenue of £300,000 to £450,000 annually.
These proposals have met with opposition. Hundreds of residents have signed a petition opposing the charges, and Reform UK councillors on Shire Hall have voiced concerns. Councillor Ray Donaghue (Reform, Cinderford) raised worries over future increases, noting that there would be no requirement for price rises to be reviewed by the environment scrutiny committee. He warned that this “is only the start, and it will hurt residents.”
His group leader, Vernon Smith (Reform, Tewkesbury West), criticised the charge’s approval, stating it was agreed upon with incomplete information prior to cabinet sign-off. He challenged the council to publish full cost details and consult the public directly if the case for the charges is strong.
Responding to these concerns at the July 22 cabinet meeting, Liberal Democrat councillor Ashley Bowkett (Barnwood and Hucclecote), who oversees waste reduction at Shire Hall, clarified the council’s position. He asserted that residents are not being charged to use the household recycling centres for ordinary household or normal recycling waste. The charges only apply to excess DIY waste beyond the free allowance.
“Residents will still be able to dispose of up to two 50 litre bags of DIY waste per visit and make up to four visits in a four-week period without any charges applying,” he said. “That means someone can bring the equivalent of up to eight 50 litre bags of DIY waste over a four-week period free of charge before any payment is required.”
Councillor Bowkett also noted that charges would not affect minor DIY waste disposals, such as tiles from a bathroom repair or small amounts of rubble from home improvement projects. The fees are designed for much larger volumes.
He emphasised the rationale behind the charges: to ensure that the costs are borne by those responsible, particularly commercial operators misusing household facilities, rather than spread across all council taxpayers.
The county’s five household recycling centres are located throughout Gloucestershire, serving residents' waste disposal needs.