Sandwell residents hit by tip ban
People in part of Sandwell will be banned from using their nearest rubbish tips under plans unveiled by Birmingham City Council to reduce domestic waste.
People in part of Sandwell will be banned from using their nearest rubbish tips under plans unveiled by Birmingham City Council to reduce domestic waste.
Waste chiefs reckon that 15 per cent of people using the so-called household recycling centres live outside of the city limits and are impacting on their waste targets.
It means Sandwell ratepayers in Great Barr will be barred from crossing the border to go to the Perry Barr centre, even though it is the place for them to dispose of unwanted rubbish.
They will instead have to go to Sandwell's only such facility at Shidas Lane in Oldbury - more than seven miles away.
Councillor Len Gregory, Birmingham's cabinet member for street services, said: "National and local policy requires us to reduce the amount of domestic waste that the city disposes of.
He said: "A recent survey of site users revealed that around 15 per cent of the people using our facilities were not Birmingham residents.
"This accounts for over 13,000 tonnes of non-Birmingham waste each year, which unfairly impacts upon Birmingham's waste reduction performance and waste disposal costs."
From July 1 all visitors to the sites will be asked to verbally provide their postcode details, which will be checked to ensure that they live within the Birmingham local authority area.
Visitors from outside Birmingham will be "politely" informed about the scheme and given details of the facilities available in their own local authority area.
Councillor Sadie Smith, who represents Great Barr for Sandwell Council, said: "I think there needs to be some sort of agreement between the councils.
"It seems very arbitrary that someone in the B42 postcode can go to the centre at Perry Barr but someone in B43 cannot."
Black Country residents are banned from using tips at Holford Drive in Perry Barr, Tameside Drive in Castle Bromwich, Lifford Lane in Kings Norton, Norris Way in Sutton Coldfield and James Road in Tyseley.
Councillor Mahboob Hussain, Sandwell's neighbourhoods chief, said: "People from one borough may find our centre is closer and some people in Sandwell will find another borough's facility closer. It works both ways.
"All we do ask for is that people with vans book in advance and bring some identification so that we can stop people with trade waste using the household centre."
