Sunderland City Council has rejected calls for “community skips” to combat fly-tipping.

The proposal, from opposition Liberal Democrat councillors, would have eventually seen skips placed in every city ward for residents’ use following a successful pilot scheme.

It was claimed that this would “help prevent illegal dumping and improve the cleanliness of neighbourhoods”.

The council said the idea was “laudable” but cited financial reasons before it was voted down at a full council meeting on Wednesday, November 11.

The proposal for new free-to-use Sunderland community skips was voted down.

placeholder image — The proposal for new free-to-use Sunderland community skips was voted down.

Wearside’s Liberal Democrats said their proposal would reduce fly-tipping, ease pressure on bulky waste collections and result in a cleaner city.

Free bulky waste collections has been available across Sunderland since April 2023.

Currently a collection of up to six items is free to residents but often comes with a lengthy wait.

Lib Dem councillor Heather Fagan said: “Demand for bulky waste collections regularly exceeds available capacity resulting in waiting times for residents and an increasing backlog of collection requests.

“Other local authorities have successfully utilised temporary community skips and organised waste disposal events to provide residents with accessible opportunities to dispose of unwanted items responsibly.

“Providing residents with convenient and free opportunities to dispose of waste can help prevent illegal dumping and improve the cleanliness of neighbourhoods.

“A programme of strategically placed community skips in every ward would provide a practical solution for residents while supporting the council’s environmental objectives.

“Nobody wants to see mattresses, furniture household rubbish and other waste dumped in our neighbourhoods or hanging around for weeks in people’s gardens.

“It looks awful, it costs the council money to clear up and has a real impact on how people feel about the area where they live.”

But Cllr Bill Blackett, cabinet member for environment, transport and enforcement on the Reform UK-led council, was not convinced.

He said: “Available research does not establish a clear causal relationship between charging for bulky waste collections and levels of fly-tipping.

“The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), a global environmental action NGO, has concluded that fly-tipping behaviour is influenced by multiple factors and that charging arrangements alone are not a reliable predictor of fly-tipping activity.

“While neighbourhood recycling events could provide additional convenience for some residents, they would create a new recurring revenue commitment at a time of significant financial pressure.”