Glasgow bulk uplift charge to continue for at least one more year

It was agreed in September that an urgent review into how the council delivers its fly-tipping enforcement work and the future of the bulk uplift charges be carried out, with a report brought before the environment committee to see what steps can be taken to strengthen its work.

The local authority has agreed to monitor the impact of fly-tipping and the introduction of bulk uplift charges between now and October 2022 – despite some members arguing that an update should be made available far before then.

Further consideration of how to help people living in private rented accommodation, who cannot access uplift services provided by housing associations, will also take place.

The decision to introduce charges for the household bulk waste service was agreed as part of the council’s budget in February 2020.

The charges were introduced on July 5, 2021 which brought Glasgow into line with the vast majority of all other Scottish local authorities who charge for bulk uplift services.

The local authority claims that since the introduction of the charges there has been no noticeable impact on the issue of fly-tipping.

During Tuesday’s environment committee, Labour leader councillor Malcolm Cunning said: “I think it would be beneficial for a report to come back before committee considerably earlier than in 12 months time.

“Given the amount of public and councillor concern around this general issue that we have a report back earlier.

“I would suggest that the committee ask that officers come back perhaps in the first committee meeting of the new year with an updated report which is basically a quarter of the year and I would have thought would be worthwhile.”

Chairman Councillor Angus Millar raised concerns that the request would be too soon for officers to monitor the effect of bulk uplift charges and fly-tipping.

He said: “We will have a number of different reports on cleansing more generally I think at the next meeting so there will be an opportunity for these issues to be on an ongoing basis.”

Following a vote, the majority of members decided to bring back a full report in one year’s time.

During the meeting the Green group also secured the expansion of free uplifts linked to community clean-ups and a pilot for removing fly tipped items from private lanes.

Councillor Martha Wardrop said: “Greens have listened to concerns over how bulk waste charging has been implemented, in particular where there has been a greater impact on some people because of their incomes, or their housing type.

“The changes we have secured will directly address these concerns, including free removal of items from private lanes and via local clean-ups, as well as keeping the overall charging system under close review.

“We also got agreement to lobby for changes to the law, so that people living in flats aren’t unfairly penalised for other people’s dumping.

“We have long argued that the council needs to make reusing and repairing items the first choice for people, and we are pleased that major funding bids are being developed that will strengthen the circular economy in the city. Together, these actions can make a difference to cleaning up Glasgow and encouraging a zero waste city. ”