Council to increase charges for commercial and industrial waste collection.

Highland councillors have agreed to increase charges by 20% for the collection and disposal of commercial and industrial wastes from 1st April, 2009.

Members of the Council’s TEC Services Committee also agreed that an increase in landfill tax (£8/tonne) is passed directly on to commercial customers.

To help alleviate the implementation of these increases, commercial customers will be encouraged to increase their level of recycling and minimise their disposal costs through the ‘Commercial Customer Bring Recycling Scheme’.

Introduced in 2007/08 the Commercial Customer Bring Recycling Scheme allows commercial customers to reduce the amount of residual waste they consign to landfill. Under the scheme, commercial customers are allowed (subject to a formal permit) to recycle cardboard, paper, glass, food tins, drink cans and green waste through an extensive network of recycling centres and recycling points.

Councillor John Laing, Chairman of the Council’s TEC Services Committee said: “This action supports the Council’s commitment to increase the amount of waste recycled in the Highlands to 40% by 2010.”

Dr Colin Clark, Highland Council’s Head of Waste Management said: “Local authorities are required under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to apply reasonable charges for the collection and disposal of commercial and industrial wastes. Charges need to achieve full cost recovery otherwise the Highland Council tax payer would be subsidising the waste collection and disposal of our 5,000 industrial and commercial customers within the Highlands.”

Commercial and industrial operators who wish further information on the Highland Council’s Commercial Customer Bring Recycling Scheme or who wish to apply for a permit should contact the Council on tel: 01463 702000.