CONCERNS have been raised that new changes for residents using Calderdale Council’s household recycling waste centres could lead to more fly-tipping in the area.

The Council is introducing a trial permit scheme at two HRWCs – at Brighouse and Elland – from Monday.

In addition from early December residents will have to pay to take small amounts of household building waste including plasterboard, hardcore or rubble to those sites which accept it.

The aim of the permits is to ensure only Calderdale residents can use the tips and is a response to issues around people from neighbouring areas where restrictions are already in place crossing the border.

This costs Calderdale money and residents’ time when they have to queue, said Calderdale Council’s cabinet member responsible, Councillor Susan Press, when the changes were announced.

Conservative group leader and Brighouse ward councillor Scott Benton said he feared both permit and charging changes risked exacerbating the fly-tipping problem.

“The cost to the Council of cleaning up fly tipping has doubled over the last few years and we now seeing real problems with fly tipping in places such as Hipperholme and Northowram.

“It costs the council far more to clean up fly tipped waste than it does to dispose of waste that has been properly disposed.

“The council obviously has financial challenges and I can see why they are now looking to cut costs by introducing a permit scheme and charges for waste rubble.

“However, it is very likely that the new permit scheme and these extra charges will discourage some people from legally disposing of waste and this is inevitability going to result in an increase in fly tipping which will damage our local environment and may end up costing the council more in the long-run,” he said.

Coun Press said the Council had to tackle these issues to manage the cost of running the centres.

“We want to make sure that our Household Waste Recycling Centres can continue to operate and maintain existing opening hours.

“In order to do this, and while managing increasing savings requirements, it’s necessary to make some changes to the way our centres operate.

“These changes have been carefully considered, taking into account disposal costs and how other authorities operate,” she said.

The ID permits, which are free and will be issued at site offices at both Elland and Brighouse HWRCs on production of valid photo identification and a recent utility bill are to ensure only Calderdale people use the sites.

If the scheme proves successful it will be rolled out at the other centres in Calderdale.

The disposal charges will mean £2.50 for a bag of rubble and £3 for a bag of plasterboard, and a maximum of six bags per a visit.