Residents will now be given a free allowance to dispose of some DIY waste – after that, charges will be incurred.
Here’s a breakdown of the incoming changes and what it means for residents.
What is my allowance?
The council has set the household allowance for DIY waste to be two 50-litre sacks of rubble per visit.
Residents can make a maximum of four free visits within a four-week period – meaning eight sacks can be disposed of before the allowance resets, but across four visits.
What counts towards my allowance?
The metric of a 50-litre rubble sack remains the same, but weight varies depending on the material being disposed of.
The weight allowances stated by the council are:
Light DIY waste (insulation, plastics, packaging): 5kg to 10kg
Wood, laminate and plasterboard: 15kg to 25kg
Rubble, bricks, tiles and concrete: 35kg to 45kg
Soil, sand or gravel: 40kg to 50kg
The allowance cannot be carried forward, accumulated or transferred – it’s ‘use it or lose it’.
I’ve exceeded my allowance. Now what?
If residents bring waste that exceeds their allowance, they will be charged. Here’s a list of current charges (once the allowance has been used up) :
Rubble and Hardcore (e.g. bricks, tiles and ceramics)
Additional rubble sacks (up to 50 litres): £4
Small load (up to four sacks): £15
Large load (car boot or trailer equivalent): £30
Plasterboard
Standard sheet (up to 2.4 x 1.2m): £5
Half sheet or bagged equivalent: £3
Soil and Sub
Per 50-litre bag: £4
Bulk load (car boot equivalent): £25
Mixed construction waste
Per 50-litre equivalent: £5
Small mixed load: £20
Large mixed load: £35
Wood
Large DIY volumes: £10 per load
Payment can be made via debit or credit card on site.
How will the council know if I’ve exceeded my allowance?
Site staff may record visits and registration numbers, assess waste and ask for proof of address to enforce the new rules.
Residents disposing of DIY waste should inform staff of their intention, who will then assess the waste.
The council said dedicated disposal areas will be provided.
Will the new rules cause further delays?
The County Press has asked the Isle of Wight Council whether it expects further queues and delays at Lynbottom Tip – in response, the council said the existing booking system would remain in place.
Do I need to separate waste types and does my waste have to bagged?
Yes, DIY waste must be bagged so staff can assess it.
Residents are encouraged to separate different waste types where possible, and hazardous waste, such as asbestos and plasterboard, must be separated and disposed of separately following the correct process.
If I have three separate types of waste which do not add up to 100 litres, can I dispose of all three bags for free?
The IW Council said ‘statutory DIY entitlement is defined as 100 litres in any combination’ of the listed materials.
If I dispose of less than two 50-litre bags of waste, how does that count towards my quota?
The council said the ‘DIY Entitlement is based on volume and set at two 50 litre sacks per week, rather than number of trips.’
The County Press has asked for clarification over whether the four free visits are once weekly or four monthly.
Why has this decision been made?
The decision to introduce the charges was approved as part of the council’s budget in February.
The local authority said the charges were not intended to make a profit, but would help cover the cost of providing the service.
Will the new rules lead to more incidents of fly-tipping?
A spokesperson for the IW Council said: “The council has carefully considered the potential risk of increased fly-tipping as part of the decision-making process.
“Evidence from other local authorities that have introduced similar charging arrangements shows mixed results, with many reporting no significant long-term increase in fly-tipping attributable to DIY waste charges.
“The council will continue to monitor fly-tipping levels closely after implementation and will work with enforcement teams to investigate and act against incidents where appropriate.
“Residents will continue to have access to a free allowance for small quantities of DIY waste, helping to minimise any impact.”
What do you think of the changes? Leave your comments below.