Dorset Council says new waste disposal rules will cost it £500k a year

A Dorset council spokesman said it had "no choice but to comply with the legislation"

A council has said new government waste disposal rules will cost local authorities at least £500,000 a year.

Dorset Council said the new legislation "simply transfers the cost" of disposing DIY waste from those who produce it to taxpayers.

The government said not charging for most DIY rubbish items would reduce the number of incidents of fly-tipping.

But the council said there was no proven link between charges and rubbish being dumped illegally.

The changes will mean residents will be able to drop off a maximum of 100 litres of waste with no charge.

This would be the equivalent or four standard rubble bags, or a single item no larger than the size of a standard bath.

Dorset Council said it would comply with the legislation while continuing to charge for some items, within the rules.

The new rules make it easier for rogue traders to attempt to illegally drop off commercial waste, councillor Laura Beddow claimed

Councillor Laura Beddow said the new legislation leaves "less money for already-stretched council services".

She said: "Since we introduced charges back in 2016 we have seen no impact on fly-tipping levels, so we do not believe removing these charges will reduce the illegal dumping of waste."

"While we have no choice but to comply with the legislation, we believe it still fails to provide councils with the tools needed to truly tackle fly-tipping, reduce waste, and increase recycling."

A government spokesperson said: "It's been our position for a long time that small scale DIY waste should be considered household waste and not be charged for.

"By removing this financial burden on the public, we will be making it easier for people to dispose of their waste properly and reducing any incentive for rubbish to be fly-tipped into our beautiful countryside."

Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].