Hampshire County Council household waste recycling centres to bring in charges for some tip users

From August 1 non-Hampshire residents who would want to use the county council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) will be charged £5.

The scheme was expected to be launched in April but rubbish tips across the county were shut due to the pandemic.

Now the county council has confirmed that the new measure will be in place from next month.

The service will remain free for all Hampshire residents but they will have to register as the new system will be controlled by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).

At the executive member for economy, transport and environment’s decision day meeting on Friday, county bosses said the scheme will start with a ‘soft launch’ for three months so that residents ‘get used to it’ and those who have not registered will have another chance to do so.

Charges will not apply for people who live in the Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council or Dorset Council area.

Cllr Rob Humby, executive member for economy, transport and environment at the county council, said: ‘Dealing with household waste is costly, which is why a number of our neighbouring authorities have already banned residents from outside their areas using their HWRCs. This is not our intention in Hampshire – instead, a charge of £5 per visit for non-Hampshire residents will be introduced from August to offset the £500,000 annual cost of dealing with waste from non-Hampshire residents visiting our sites.’

SEE ALSO: Hampshire tips reopen with large queues

The council said more than 345,000 households have already registered for the system.

Cllr Humby added: ‘We’re introducing this system because I want to find a way that provides effective and environmentally practicable options for residents who live close to Hampshire’s borders, to continue to access our HWRCs, but in a way that is fairer to Hampshire residents who pay for the cost of the service through their council tax.’

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