AN East Dorset councillor is calling for a reversal of the policy to charge at tips following an “unprecedented increase” of fly-tipping in the area.

Recent figures revealed it cost over £30,000 to clear and dispose of 569 fly-tips in East Dorset last financial year – the most of all areas covered by the Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP).

Cllr Shane Bartlett said the introduction of charges at Dorset’s household recycling centres last year were to blame for the increase in fly-tipping.

Speaking at a full council meeting recently he said: “Due to the unprecedented increase and volume of fly tipping that we are now seeing within the borders of our district, does the portfolio holder accept that the policy to charge for certain types of rubbish at our recycling and waste centres was wrong?

“When can this chamber see a reversal of a policy to charge for certain waste items that some of us warned at the time would undoubtedly lead to an increase in fly tipping?”

Councillor Barbara Manuel, portfolio holder for environment, disputed the claim and said there had not been an increase in the number of fly-tips that could be linked to the introduction of charges at recycling centres, although there had been an increase in fly-tipping incidents generally when compared to previous years.

She said the DWP would be saving £250,000 each year from the introduction of charges at recycling centres – nearly double the cost of all fly-tip removal across Dorset last financial year, around £126,000.

“I do not believe that the policy to charge for certain types of rubbish at our recycling and waste centres was wrong,” she added.

Cllr Bartlett replied that he was “somewhat confused” that the policy to charge at tips was introduced, adding: “I believe the government is now going to bring about legislation to stop things like DIY materials from being chargeable in the future.”

Cllr Manuel said: “The government may have requested that we didn’t charge for any deposits taken to the household recycling centres but, in fact, we were not actually allowed to charge for domestic waste but other objects (e.g. tyres) we were allowed to charge for. Obviously, in these days of austerity, we had to charge where we could.”

She added the council would “watch and adhere to government legislation as it is imposed.”