Waste charge rise is attacked

WASTE bosses are being urged to cut charges for business rubbish after a 2,400 per cent hike in prices.

Oldham’s Labour group says the minimum cost to businesses getting rid of waste in Greater Manchester rose from £1.94 to £48.50 per half tonne in June.

Even if businesses produce less than half a tonne they will still be charged the full amount — an increase of 2,400 per cent.

Councillor Shoab Akhtar, shadow cabinet member for environment and infrastructure, said: “We are deeply concerned that this will have a big impact on small businesses in Oldham at a time when they can least afford the increased costs.

“There is also a strong possibility that we will see an increase in fly tipping. This will result in added costs to keep the borough clean.”

Waste sites are now run by private consortium Viridor Laing, on behalf of the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority, after a £4billion contract was signed earlier this year.

The minimum half tonne charge was brought in by Viridor Laing in June 15, part of the agreement within the 25-year waste and recycling contract.

The Oldham Labour group will be writing to the authority to seek further clarification on the 2,400 per cent increase, and asking them to drop the price to an amount more affordable to small businesses.


Last night’s Oldham Council debate on the issue...

Liberal Democrat spokesman, Councillor Philomena Dillon, admitted more should have been done to consult with local businesses before a new half-ton minimum weight limit was imposed on business waste being cleared by Virodor Laing, the new contractor operating Greater Manchester waste services.

Councillor Dillon, Oldham’s representative on the Greater Manchester Waste Authority, admitted members failed to consult with small businesses.

But she questioned Labour’s figures and said the half-ton minimum limit had been imposed to speed up work at waste transfer stations, stop council taxpayers subsidising business waste charges and cut the number of journeys to waste disposal sites. If businesses kept to the half-ton minimum, the rise was only 8 per cent, she said.

Deputy Labour leader Councillor Shoab Akhtar said charges to small businesses used to start at £1.94 — now they were £48.50 for 500kg. Councillor Steve Bashforth added: “How many cardboard boxes have you got to carry to make 500kg?”

And he said a lot of small businesses would not be able to get 500kg of waste in their vans.

He added: “The more irresponsible will start to throw it away.”