International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

Table 8-10: Summarised Cost Benefit of the Introduction of Charging Schemes in
England
Additional Costs due to rerouting of Garden and Bulky Waste to CA Sites
Change Change
Change
(£/hhld)
(£/hhld)
£0.38
Introduction Costs £2.82
Billing Costs £4.83
Fly-tip Costs £1.73
Change in Kerbside Collection and Treatment / Disposal Costs -£13.95
Net Costs -£4.19
Source: Hogg, D., Wilson, D., Gibbs, A., Astley, M., Papineschi, J. (2006) Modelling the Impact of
Household Charging for Waste in England, Final Report to Defra.
Annual costs of organising and administering billing were modelled at £4.83 per
household. As noted above, it is questionable whether this cost is genuinely
‘additional’ in the Irish context.
It should be noted that these costs were modelling costs (based on researched
itemised costs) for partial (71%) roll out of a range of different charging schemes
across England. What is not shown in the headline table is the cost benefit of
universal roll out of one or other particular charging approach in any particular local
authority. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the net cost/benefit per charged
household if preferential (the most effective and efficient) charging schemes were
employed may result in an annual saving of almost £12 per household. Greenhouse
gas savings are additional to this figure, and as shown in Section 8.5.10 may be in
excess of £3 per household depending upon one’s assumptions, and the nature of
the systems used.
The true delivery of these cost savings inherently necessitates a strong and freeflowing
financial relationship between the bodies responsible for waste management
and administration at every level. In practice, policies needs to be carefully
constructed if this is to happen (i.e. to ensure that collection cost savings and avoided
disposal savings contribute to the clean up of fly-tips etc.).
8.7 Effects on Technical Change / Innovation
In terms of waste prevention, the nature of changes tends to be related to purchasing
decisions, and increasing home composting. There is some anecdotal evidence which
suggests that where pay-by-use systems are in place, householders tend demand
reduced packaging. A report for SNIFFER undertook surveys of multinational
companies, some of whom hinted at possible effects of charging on packaging
design: 183
183 Eunomia Research & Consulting and M. E. L. Research for ECOTEC Research & Consulting (2002)
Towards Sustainable Waste Management Practice, Report for SNIFFER, SR(02)05a, April 2002.
148
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