Recycling centre permit scheme to be extended to trailers

A permit scheme to cut the number of traders who illegally tip their rubbish is being extended to include trailers as part of a package of changes to Plymouth’s household waste recycling centres.

From July people who use trailers will have to apply for a permit if they want to tip waste at Chelson Meadow and Weston Mill household waste recycling centres.

Staff are now leafleting and explaining the changes to users at the site. The changes will not affect the majority of people and are designed to tackle the number of traders who switched to using trailers to side-step the van permit system which was introduced in 2002. Vans were banned altogether at the Weston Mill site.

From July

• owners of trailers up to 1.8 metres (6 feet) long will be allowed to make up to 12 visits a year
• trailers over 1.8 metres (6 feet) but less than 3 metres (10 feet) long will be allowed to make six tips a year
• *trailers over 3 metres (10 feet) will no longer be allowed at Weston Mill or Chelson Meadow recycling centres.
• permits will be allocated for either a van or a trailer but households will not be issued with a permit for both.

A survey of trailer use at the sites found 23 per cent of the trailers who tipped had builders’ rubble, with many turning up first thing in the morning, suggesting they are traders offloading ahead of the working day.

Councillor Brian Vincent said: "We have looked hard at where we can make savings, become more efficient without having too much impact on the vast majority of people who use the site.

“We have suspected for a long time that many people bringing in trailers were, in fact, traders who are flouting trade waste legislation by tipping here. The permit system should provide ample opportunities for Plymouth people who are genuinely getting rid of rubbish from their homes.”

Changes to van permits

The current permit system allows 12 visits a year for small and large vans. Under the new system, small vans will still be allowed 12 visits, but the number of visits by large vans will be reduced to six.

Soil and rubble

The Council also plans to limit the amount of construction and demolition waste taken at the sites, in the face of escalating disposal costs and again due to suspected abuse from traders, who should be using commercial waste disposal firms.

Changes to site opening hours

Opening hours have also changed with summer opening hours for Chelson Meadow will be daily from 9.30am to 6pm, except on Mondays when it will close later at 7pm. On Saturdays Chelson Meadow will open at 8.30am and close at 6.30pm.

In Winter Chelson Meadows hours will be 9.30a.m to 5pm daily, except on Mondays when it will close at 6pm and on Saturday the site will open from 8.30am to 5.30pm.

Weston Mill site will change from opening from 9am to 6pm all year round to 9.30am to 6pm in Summer and 9.30am to 5pm in Winter.

The centres will not open on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

More information about where people can apply for permits and criteria as well as 'Frequently Asked Questions' is available at www.plymouth.gov.uk.