Cornish hauliers fight tip rates
Page 14
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Angry Cornish hauliers are banding together to fight predicted increases in tipping rates at landfill sites after council-run waste disposal operations are privatised under the Environmental Protection Act which comes into force in April.
Up to 35 hauliers have joined WASTE (working and saving the environment) which has the backing of the Road Haulage Association through its West Cornwall sub district.
WASTE fears that large operators taking over from councils will charge skip and tipper operators unloading rates that will price small hauliers out of business.
The new organisation has support from David Harris MP (St Ives) for its opposition to the proposed closure of the St Erth's refuse transfer station. This will force up the distance hauliers have to travel to unload waste. Harris has told WASTE spokesman Bill McKay — who runs ABC Skip Hire in St Just — that he will be "happy to take up any recommendations from hauliers with Cornwall County Council.
McKay says that charges for tipping at council sites have risen by 140% in three years and he believes this was a prelude to privatisation. In future the operator who runs the tip will dictate the cost," says McKay, who warns that costs are set to rise again in June.
"We charge our customers about £45 a skip load," says McKay, "but out of that we pay £25 to tip."
He believes that his customers will have to pay "through the nose" for waste disposal privatisation and will receive a "shoddy service". If small hauliers are forced out of business there will be a glut of cheap trucks which he predicts will lead to an outbreak of fly-tipping.
WASTE hauliers were due to meet in Penzance on 8 March to decide their next move.
Barry Waldron, client services manager for Cornwall County Council, says he is unable to allay WASTE's fears about price rises after 1 April.
Already 13 large national and multinational operators have asked to tender for Cornwall's waste disposal services. They will face competition from the council's own proposed LAWDC (local authority waste disposal company) which the Department of the Environ ment has allowed the council to form: LAWDCs can only be set up with the permission of the Environment Secretary and they must operate as independent private operations.