UPDATE 10/02/2018
A quick update on this.
Cllr Breare-Hall has agreed to discuss this with Essex County Council. As he says,
“The waste and recycling centre in Waltham Abbey is run by Essex County Council (ECC) so I’m afraid Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) is not in a position to implement the scheme you propose. As such, you may wish to direct your suggestion to the relevant portfolio holder at ECC.”
This is true but ECC referred me to EFDC!
Original post;
Back in October 2016 Essex County Council changed their policy on recycling and waste facilities (council tips) to exclude people using small vans and trailers even if they’re bringing domestic waste. This was a reasonable attempt to stop commercial waste being dumped at a household tip.
One of the affected facilities was Waltham Abbey’s.
Unfortunately, it seems that it has led to an increase in fly-tipping – although it’s difficult to demonstrate how true that is – and has inconvenienced many households, who now have to drive to Harlow.
One solution could be to introduce a van and trailer permit scheme, such as the one in Harlow, or downloadable Household Waste Declaration Forms, such as those available on the Southend District Council website.
By allowing registered domestic users to bring domestic waste in vans and on trailers, even if just for limited times (eg Sunday afternoons) the District Council could alleviate the additional pressure on our roads, related pollution and inconvenience for Waltham Abbey’s residents. It could potentially reduce fly-tipping too.
I’ve written to Councillor Will Breare-Hall, the District Council’s Environment portfolio holder, to ask if such a scheme has been considered and, if not, to look into introducing one.
There could be factors preventing it that I’m not aware of, such as capacity at Waltham Abbey’s facility or the limits of the District Council’s authority.
I’ll keep you updated with progress.