From 1 April 2018 households now need to pay if they need to take any DIY waste to their local tip.
Previously households were permitted to take small amounts of DIY waste to any of the tips in Norfolk free of charge. This amounted to one large item or up to 80 litres of waste per household. However, Norfolk County Council is now looking to reduce costs, and by introducing this charge will make a saving of approximately £280,000 a year.
Martin Wilby, chairman of the Environment, Development and Transport Committee, said the decision was made as the council “is not legally required to take people’s DIY waste.”
He added, “I must stress that this change will only affect DIY waste. Our recycling centres will still take all household waste for free which includes furniture, sofas, white goods and other electrical items, and garden waste.”
What is DIY waste?
DIY construction and demolition waste that will now be charged for:
- Timber – including kitchen units, fitted furniture, doors, laminate flooring, floorboards, sheds, fence panels, decking and garden structures
- Rubble – including bricks, tiles, stones, toilets, sinks and concrete.
- Plasterboard – all plasterboard and plaster.
- Flat glass – including glass from windows and doors, shower screens, greenhouses
- General waste – for example roofing felt, fibreglass insulation, plastic guttering etc.
When arriving at the recycling centre DIY waste will be assessed and payment will be taken before unloading. Charges will not apply to other items such as white goods and other electrical items, furniture and garden waste which will remain free to dispose of.
Further information including current costs and FAQs is available from the Norfolk County Council website.
