Council to limit tip visits in bid to save cash

People living in parts of Cheshire are set to be limited in the number of times they can visit waste recycling centres under new plans aimed at saving money.

Cheshire West and Chester Council is looking to bring in changes to its waste policies, which would mean residents could only visit the sites 30 times a year.

People will also be required to their vehicle and address so visits can be monitored.

The move, set to be signed off in a meeting later, comes after the authority said people making unauthorised visits was costing too much money to contain.

Documents on the council's website read: "The proposals aim to ensure that centres remain accessible to all residents who need it whilst tackling the minority of excessive s and commercial s who are bringing unauthorised waste.

"Dealing with unauthorised waste costs the council money and means there is less room for residents to use the sites."

The authority has seven tips in Chester, Ellesmere Port, Frodsham, Neston, Northwich, Tattenhall and Winsford.

Under the new plans, residents would be able to apply for additional visits in exceptional circumstances and the council said it would "make it easier" for those who cannot get to the tips to access the service with the help of relatives, friends and neighbours.

It would also increase the amount of DIY waste people can bring in one visit to eight bags from the current two

A report to councillors said the plans would save the authority £165,000 and that up to three vehicles could be ed per address.

The authority said it had decided to review its policies because its current contract was coming to an end, with the council's wholly-owned company taking over from April 2026.

Council deputy leader Karen Shore said: "We are always looking to improve our services in line with best practice, and many areas in the country are already doing what is being proposed here.

"We need to make sure that we can provide a modernised service that is easy to use, affordable to operate, and helps the council reach our climate change goals."

Some areas already have limits in place for visits, for example in Greater Manchester residents can visit their tip 52 times a year.

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