Free Long Sutton area garden waste collections to add household goods?

Household goods like fridges and washing machines and bulky items such as mattresses and settees could be added to a free green waste service.

Last year, Long Sutton district councillors Jack Tyrrell and David Wilkinson hired a grab lorry to launch free-to-use garden waste collections.

The pair pooled council taxpayers' cash from ward budgets to foot the bill for five Saturday collections spread across Long Sutton, Lutton and Tydd St Mary.

Coun Tyrrell says they hope to go one step further this year in a bid to help people who would otherwise have to drive to Spalding or Wisbech to dispose of goods.

He said: "We are looking at mattresses, settees, kitchen cabinets - all the things people chuck in the dykes or burn in their back gardens."

Coun Tyrrell said they are planning half-a-dozen dates during the spring and summer, and it's hoped that one or perhaps two of those will be for household items.

Last year the scheme proved popular for residents and Coun Tyrrell is hoping for a big take-up this year, especially if household items are added.

Long Sutton sees a lot of fly-tipping and Coun Tyrrell says: "People drive out to our area to dump stuff."

He would like to see the district council end charges for collecting things like washing machines or fridges because some people, who can't or won't pay the fee, either end up fly-tipping it themselves - or think they're getting a good deal from a white van man, who will fly-tip the stuff anyway.

Recycling centres like the one in Spalding's West Marsh Lane are run by Lincolnshire County Council.

Coun Tyrrell says he's heard from tradesmen with signed vans who have been turned away when they are tipping their own belongings.

"If you are a plasterer, for example, and you put your settee in the back, they will not take it because they say you are a trader," he said. "It's the same if you're a bricklayer. A bricklayer isn't making mattresses, is he?"

Coun Wilkinson said: "I will also be trying to sort out the collection of other waste such as white goods and furniture for residents in our ward, and I am waiting to hear back from South Holland District Council (SHDC).

"I am convinced that our garden waste service stopped the amount of fly tipping, certainly in Lutton - in one hot spot there was hardly anything dumped so it does make a difference.

"The fact that in 2018/19 I believe the cost of collecting fly tipping to SHDC was in the region of £80,000 we need to think out of the box.

"We have proved our scheme works and is extremely popular, both Lutton and Long Sutton parishes are self funding this year."

Coun Tyrrell said Lutton and Long Sutton parish councils are contributing but not Tydd.