Disposing DIY waste at council recycling centres in England and Wales will no longer incur fees under new government plans.

Existing legislation means that any rubbish generated through DIY, even at home, is generated as industrial waste, meaning local councils are not responsible for providing free disposal points.

This includes rubbish such as shed or fence panels, tiles, plasterboard and paving slabs.

Consultation documents published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs propose scrapping charges for getting rid of such waste, with the hope that it could help reduce fly-tipping.

“Government believes householders should not be charged to dispose of DIY waste,” it says.

“We are proposing changes to allow householders to deposit DIY waste for free.

“This will reduce the potential risk of fly-tipping, littering and backyard burning which create additional costs for local authorities and causes environmental issues.”

Rishi Sunak asks PM to refer him to Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests

The Queen says she was left ‘very tired and exhausted’ during her bout of COVID-19

Easter travel: Drivers warned of record traffic – with rail and airport disruption also expected

Incidents of fly-tipping have surged in recent years, with more than one million recorded by local authorities in 2021, official figures show.

At the height of the first COVID lockdown, Sky News reported on how a smartphone app had also reported a huge increase in fly-tipping as people spent more time working on DIY projects at home.

Under the government’s proposals, DIY waste would be re-classified as household waste, enabling it to be disposed without any charge like other rubbish and recycling.

Councils charge different amounts for getting rid of DIY waste, but the government believes its plans could save households as much as £10 per item.

The consultation is being held online and runs until 4 July.

Related posts:

UK reports one COVID-related death and 3,383 new cases in latest figures Kate jokes about getting William a Spider-Man suit as she praises ‘amazing’ photo of lockdown hero Gareth Southgate given Freedom of Middlesbrough award More rescue equipment needed near open water, says father of teen who drowned in reservoir New deadlier COVID variant ‘a realistic possibility’, SAGE warns Woman ‘forever indebted’ to stranger who helped her mum flee Kabul after emotional reunion in UK Rage against the dying of the light: High rise developments threaten Britain’s oldest synagogue Channel tragedy survivor: Victims ‘held hands in order not to drown’ after boat capsized TSB to close 70 more branches – is yours one of them? Body identified as missing teenager Bobbi-Anne McLeod PM: Plan to offer booster jabs to everyone eligible by end of January to deal with new Omicron variant ‘We’re living in days of fakes and lies’: Putin’s spokesman denies war crimes but admits ‘significant’ Russian losses