Preston’s main household waste centre is off Tom Benson Way Pic: Tony Worrall

Heading to the tip on a Sunday morning is something of a right of passage, but it might become trickier.

Preston DIY enthusiasts could be charged to dispose of more than ten bags of waste a year.

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Lancashire County Council is proposing to bring in a limit to how much soil, rubble and plasterboard can be taken to household waste centres.

Cabinet member for public protection and waste, county councillor Janice Hanson, is considering a plan to introduce a free permit allowing residents to dispose of up to ten 25kg bags of DIY waste a year without charge.

Any bags or items above this limit would be charged at £3.50 per bag or item.

Steve Scott, head of waste management, said: “First and foremost we provide HWRCs to allow people to recycle and dispose of normal household waste free of charge, which is a statutory duty for all waste disposal authorities.

“However, our current service also allows unlimited free disposal of DIY wastes which include rubble, soil and plasterboard, amongst others, which isn’t a statutory duty. This is proving very expensive for the council to deal with, and unfortunately something we can’t continue to do in the present financial climate. Many other councils already charge for or place limits on DIY waste.

“Importantly, by providing free disposal of a reasonable amount of waste, the new policy will encourage people to be responsible, and residents will still be able to complete small scale DIY projects and use HWRCs without charge after applying for a permit.

“At the same time, by introducing charges our proposal also provides flexibility for those who want the convenience of taking DIY waste without a permit or taking more than the limited free amount.

“But ultimately we need to reduce the cost to the council of disposing of DIY waste, and other options such as skip hire will provide better value for money for people engaged in larger household DIY projects.

“The new policy does not affect hazardous waste, such as asbestos, tyres or gas bottles, which will continue to be free to dispose of.”

The county council estimates the new permits would cut its cost of dealing with household waste by £750,000 per year.

County councillor Hanson is due to consider the proposal on Tuesday 9 December, if she approves it then the county council’s cabinet must sign off on it – and if this happens it would come into force on 1 April 2015.

What do you think of this proposal? Do you support it? Would you pay? Let us know in the comments below