The petition of residents of the constituency of Glastonbury and Somerton,
Declares that Somerset residents should be able to use their closest household waste recycling centre; further declares that the decision to charge Somerset residents £8.50 to use a Dorset Council household waste recycling centre in Sherborne is wrong; further notes the recent separate petition highlighting the strength of community feeling on this issue; further declares that this move will force residents in Milborne Port, Henstridge, Charlton Horethorne, Corton Denham, Templecombe and the surrounding areas to travel up to a 28 mile round trip to access a free household waste recycling centre; further notes the possible environmental impact of this decision and the possible increased CO2 emissions and fuel costs for rural residents; further declares that easy access encourages residents to separate waste properly rather than disposing of recyclables, hazardous items, or bulky furniture in standard household bins; further notes with concern that this charge has been implemented after the latest annual statistics show there was an 9% increase in fly tipping incidents in 2024-25; and further notes that 62% of fly-tips involved household waste.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to take into account the concerns of the petitioners and to encourage Dorset Council and Somerset Council to take immediate action to ensure that Somerset residents are able to use their closest household waste recycling centre without charge, including in Sherborne.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Sarah Dyke, Official Report, 21 April 2026; Vol. 784, c. 297.]
[P003188]
Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mary Creagh):
Local authorities are legally required to deliver waste collection services to households in their area. Householders must be allowed to deposit waste deemed to be “household waste” for free. There is no specific obligation to provide such a service for residents in another area, although a local authority can make arrangements with a neighbouring authority for its residents to use the neighbouring authority’s facilities.
We have issued guidance for local authorities on factors to consider when delivering household waste collection services to ensure they meet local need and deliver value-for-money for the taxpayer.
Local authorities are independent bodies and are accountable to their electorate rather than to Ministers or Departments. If citizens have concerns about their local authority, they should try to discuss these with their council in the first instance. The Local Government Ombudsman is charged by Parliament with investigating complaints of injustice arising from maladministration by local authorities and is free of charge.