Last month, residents challenged the cost of recycling DIY waste in Reading and Bracknell by signing a petition, but the council is unmoved.
Up to 100 litres of rubble, soil, plasterboard or asbestos or one big object like a bath no larger than 2m x 75cm x70cm in size can be disposed of by residents at household waste recycling points in Reading and Bracknell.
More than a bathtub-full of DIY waste brought in during a single visit incurs charges.
Visitors can currently bring rubble on up to three occasions in four weeks, but on the fourth occasion, there is also a charge.
Bracknell resident Dan Carter organised a petition in December to Bracknell Forest council, believing that council tax should fund waste and recycling services.
However the council says that charges were introduced to pay for the costs of bulky recycling and shift the costs of the disposal away from council tax payers.
Mr Carter, who does not support council charges for disposing of DIY waste, asked what the primary rationale was, whether the charges had been made for financial or other reasons.
His position is supported by Conservative Leader Cllr Gareth Barnard.
Cllr Barnard said: “Introducing the charges is potentially a false economy: we know we’ve got a problem with fly tipping problem in Bracknell Forest.
“The most important thing is to remind everyone that if you get someone to taking your rubble and rubbish away – make sure they have a licence to do it.
“If someone you’ve hired dumps your rubbish, and they’re not licenced, then you’re responsible for it.”
Cllr Helen Purnell, now the acting council leader replied:
“Without charges, the additional cost of disposing of this heavier material would fall on all council taxpayers, rather than only those generating the waste.
“We experienced a reduction in certain waste tonnages when charges were first introduced in 2016, followed by a slight increase when the free allowance was later brought in.
“The Recycling Centre service is intended for small amounts of DIY waste, and for larger quantities we advise residents to consider using a commercial waste removal service or hiring a skip.
A report about the relationship between fly-tipping rates and charges for recycling was published recently by the Waste and Resources Action Programme.
The report is understood to have included analysis of Re3’s own experience following the introduction of charges in 2016.
Cllr Purnell said: “We continue to monitor this locally, but the report concluded that it is “unlikely that there is an association” between charging at recycling centres and fly‑tipping.”
“It is also important to note that most fly‑tipping is carried out by criminal groups rather than by Borough residents.”