COUNCIL chiefs are exploring ways to reduce the £95,000 annual bill for collecting sofas and other soft furnishings as part of waste collections.
Changes to regulations around persistent organic pollutants (POP) saw the Joint Waste Service operated by Lichfield District Council and Tamworth Borough Council forced to make changes to the way it handled bulky waste.
It meant items such as soft furnishings had to be segregated from other waste at the point of collection as well as being labelled and traceable throughout the disposal process.
As a result, an additional driver, loader and van had to be hired at a cost of around £95,000 a year.
Now a report to the Joint Waste Service committee says work is taking place to try and cut that cost – with options including increasing the amount charged to householders being considered.
“The POP regulations seek to prevent toxic materials ending up in landfill or polluting other waste streams.
“The service is investigating ways to lower the full year pressure, including purchasing a new vehicle on a contract hire basis, as well as optimising the balance of collections across POP material and scrap metal rounds.
“However, it is recommended that the councils consider increasing charges to cover a maximum of £95,000 costs across the joint service, split or by injecting additional funding into the service.”
For bulky waste, local households pay £19 for one item, £27 for two, £35 for three or £43 for four.
But the Joint Waste Service report said covering the costs of the new collection arrangements entirely through charges based on the existing structure would mean an increase to £35 for a single item and an additional £10 for every other item picked up.
However, an alternative could be moving to a model used by other councils where bundle deals offer up to three items for a flat fee higher than the current lowest rate offered.
The options will be debated at a meeting of the Joint Waste Committee tomorrow (22nd January).
