By Isle of Wight Observer
The CLA has described bulky waste collection charges as a “postcode lottery”, in the wake of new analysis of council fees.
It has been reported today that charges range from a few pounds to over £40 for a single item.
Out of 68 authorities in the South East that charge for bulky waste to be collected, the Isle of Wight was the 25th most expensive at £35 per collection.
But good news for Islanders, the £35 charge allows local residents to dispose of up to 4 bulky items, making the average cost per item just £8.80. This makes the Isle of Wight the 25th cheapest authority out of 68 in the South East region on a ‘per item’ basis.
Regional Director Robin Edwards said: “It is a postcode lottery in terms of what you will be charged by your local authority in terms of getting rid of bulk waste.
“If charges are too high, you run the danger of other companies or individuals coming in and charging less and potentially not disposing of items in the correct manner.
“If waste is fly-tipped then it is taxpayers, farmers and landowners who have to foot the clean-up bill.
“The environmental cost is also considerable, especially if items such as fridges and freezers are dumped because refrigerants can damage waterways and soil.”
The table below shows 68 areas in the South East that charge for bulky waste collections
| Authority | Charge | No of items? | Average charge per item | Max items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aylesbury Vale | 75 | 3 | 25.0 | 8 |
| Eastleigh | 56 | |||
| Lewes | 55 | 5 | 11.0 | |
| Wealden | 55 | 3 | 18.3 | |
| Tonbridge and Malling | 52 | 6 | 8.7 | 6 |
| Eastbourne | 50 | 3 | 16.7 | |
| Runnymede | 44 | 3 | 14.7 | |
| Spelthorne | 44 | 5 | 8.8 | |
| Waverley | 44 | 1 | 44.0 | |
| Bracknell Forest | 43 | 3 | 14.3 | |
| Adur | 42.5 | 3 | 14.2 | |
| Worthing | 42.5 | 3 | 14.2 | |
| West Berkshire | 41 | 5 | 8.2 | 5 |
| Mole Valley | 40 | 1 | 40.0 | |
| Epsom and Ewell | 38.5 | 3 | 12.8 | |
| Tunbridge Wells | 38.4 | 4 | ||
| Rushmoor | 38 | 3 | 12.7 | |
| Chiltern | 37 | 3 | 12.3 | 9 |
| Fareham | 37 | 1 | 37.0 | |
| South Bucks | 37 | 3 | 12.3 | 3 |
| Wycombe | 37 | 3 | 12.3 | 9 |
| Rother | 36 | 3 | 12.0 | 9 |
| South Oxfordshire | 36 | 3 | 12.0 | 6 |
| Vale of White Horse | 36 | 3 | 12.0 | 6 |
| Hart | 35.33 | 1 | 35.3 | |
| Isle of Wight | 35 | 4 | 8.8 | 4 |
| Guildford | 34 | 1 | 34.0 | |
| Reading | 33 | 1 | 33.0 | |
| Windsor and Maidenhead | 33 | 1 | 33.0 | 5 |
| Tandridge | 32.11 | 3 | 10.7 | 3 |
| Wokingham | 32.1 | 5 | 6.4 | 5 |
| Havant | 31 | 1 | 31.0 | |
| Dover | 30.55 | 5 | 6.1 | |
| Dartford | 30 | 10 | 3.0 | |
| Elmbridge | 30 | 1 | 30.0 | |
| Portsmouth | 30 | |||
| Reigate and Banstead | 30 | |||
| Surrey Heath | 30 | 1 | 30.0 | 10 |
| Woking | 30 | 1 | 30.0 | |
| Basingstoke and Deane | 29.18 | 3 | 9.7 | |
| Test Valley | 28.5 | 1 | 28.5 | 4 |
| Gravesham | 27 | 4 | 6.8 | |
| West Oxfordshire | 26.5 | 4 | 6.6 | 6 |
| Chichester | 26 | 8 | 3.3 | 8 |
| Crawley | 26 | |||
| Gosport | 25 | 1 | 25.0 | |
| Maidstone | 25 | 4 | 6.3 | |
| Swale | 25 | 4 | 6.3 | 4 |
| Thanet | 25 | 5 | 5.0 | |
| Shepway (now Folkestone and Hythe District Council) | 24.5 | 1 | 24.5 | 4 |
| Ashford | 24 | 4 | 6.0 | 8 |
| New Forest | 23 | 1 | 23.0 | 8 |
| Hastings | 21 | 3 | 7.0 | 3 |
| Medway | 21 | 3 | 7.0 | 3 |
| Hartlepool | 20 | 3 | 6.7 | 6 |
| Mid Sussex | 20 | 1 | 20.0 | |
| Milton Keynes | 20 | |||
| Cherwell | 18 | 3 | 6.0 | 6 |
| Sevenoaks | 18 | 1 | 18.0 | |
| Horsham | 17 | 1 | 17.0 | |
| East Hampshire | 16.72 | 1 | 16.7 | |
| Winchester | 16.72 | 1 | 16.7 | |
| Canterbury | 15.55 | 1 | 15.6 | |
| Slough | 15 | 1 | 15.0 | 7 |
| Brighton and Hove | 10 | |||
| Middlesbrough | 10 | 5 | 2 | |
| Southampton | 10 | 1 | 10.0 | 10 |
| Arun |
