A former councillor has slammed a proposal to charge residents £25 for a permit to use their brown recycling bin.
John Kellas, who served as Perth and Kinross Council’s convener for enterprise and infrastructure claims he has been “inundated” with phone calls from irate residents since it was announced.
The proposal will be discussed by council chiefs on February 15 and is set to begin on April 1 if given the green light by the council.
First notifications of the plan have been sent to residents across the region.
Mr Kellas said: “Many people have told me they have no intention of buying this permit, if it comes to light, and will instead put their garden waste into normal rubbish. They have no intention of trailing their garden waste down the A9 into Perth.
“I feel this is a step too far by the council and the wrong route to go down. I know they need to raise money but they could have put more pence on the council tax – £25 for a brown bin permit is not good value.”
Mr Kellas also states many residents are concerned the council may close rural recycling centres, such as the one in Bankfoot, where he lives.
“There have been fears for a while that these rural recycling centres may have to close, which would be awful.
“From what I’m hearing, there is concern from residents in areas such as Stanley, Dunkeld, Luncarty and Bankfoot.”
Councillor Ian James, a Scottish Conservative representative for the Strathtay ward, accused Mr Kellas of “mischief-making.”
“Mr Kellas knows full well that he was a leading member of the SNP administration that looked at this charge in during the last budget,” he commented.
“I therefore find it hilarious that he is now campaigning against it now that he is no longer an elected representative of the community.”
He continued: “It is not a statutory requirement of the council to collect garden waste and it was therefore decided that rather than cut the service, the council would charge for those that wished their garden waste to be collected.
“The charge equates to 50p per week. The caveat I would make on that is I am against any closure of recycling centres.”
Councillor Grant Laing, a SNP representative for the same ward, added: “It is a hot topic but we must stress this is a proposal – it has yet to be decided. It may well be that the permit costs £30 or £10.
“Personally, I don’t want to see recycling centres close.”
Councillor Anne Jarvis, a Scottish Conservative representative for the ward, described the proposed £25 charge as a “revenue generator.”
“It is estimated that the charge will raise around £840,000 on the basis of 50 per cent of residents continuing to use the service,” she said.
Councillor Colin Stewart, convenor of Perth and Kinross Council’s environment and infrastructure committee, revealed some residents have contacted him about the charge.
“I have also been contacted by people in rural areas who don’t currently have brown bins but would gladly pay for one,” he said.
