Booking a slot at household waste recycling centres in Milton Keynes is set to be made permanent, despite concerns it could increase fly tipping.
The proposal is a part of this year’s budget which is being put under the microscope by MK Council’s budget and resources scrutiny committee.
Council officers believe the move, which could include an Amazon-style one-click booking system from April, will save the council £160,000 in the next financial year. It was introduced last year as lockdown restrictions eased.
But some councillors have their doubts, saying the move could increase costs in other areas such as the clearing up of fly-tipping.
Opposition councillor Allan Rankine (Cons, Bletchley Park) said: “Do costs outweigh the benefits?
“We are collecting excess tonnage from the street as a result of the booking system.
“Booking makes tips less accessible for people in a hurry or who are bad at organising themselves. Removing the ability to tip on a whim will surely increase fly tipping.”
New charges for non-household and building waste are also set to be introduced, and Cllr Rankine said: “Charges for waste also incentivises fly tipping and that creates a cost.”
Cllr Emily Darlington (Lab, Bletchley East) is the council’s cabinet member for public realm and housing services.
She said the booking system had proved “quite successful” being used 140,000 times, and it had revealed abuse by firms who had pretended to be council tax payers to avoid business fees.
The tips had also seen cross-border visitors from other council areas who have their own tips to go to.
Cllr Darlington revealed that 80 to 90 per cent of the city’s fly tipping comes from residents who leave their black bags out on the wrong day. This also helps fuel rat problems in some areas of Milton Keynes.
The council wants to make sure people know which days to leave their bags out, and possibly fine persistent offenders, the meeting heard.
Councillors also heard that much of the current issue with increased quantities of rubbish is to do with people staying in and working at home during the pandemic.
Cllr Robin Bradburn (Lib Dem, Bradwell), chairing the committee, said: “The volume of cardboard taken out of Milton Keynes after the Christmas holidays was higher than most conurbations in Western Europe let alone in the UK
“We seem to be the prime delivery centre for DPD and Amazon. It’s quite amazing.”
And Cllr Darlington added: “The level of glass recycling went up by 70 per cent which might give you an idea what people did over the Christmas holidays.”
For Cllr Paul Williams (Lab, Central MK) the booking system proved to be a lot easier.
And he added: “There simply is no excuse for fly tipping.
“Anyone who thinks that they can use the imposition of a booking system as as an excuse for this – it can’t be excused at all.”
The budget for 2021-22 is due to be confirmed at council meetings next month.
