WE regret that miscommunication appears to have led to problems for Mr Magee disposing of rubbish (Tip trouble, Postbag, May 18) when he obtained a van permit for someone else to take it to a recycling site.

Instant free permits for vans, pick-ups and short single-axle trailers towed by cars were introduced last year to cut congestion, maintain safety and improve efficiency at recycling sites.

The scheme has successfully done this by blocking out-of-county users, ensuring commercial users pay their way as legally required, and by limiting the largest and hardest to manoeuvre vehicles that carry the heaviest loads, and that require far more space, time and staff support than the typical user in a car.

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As Mr Magee did not pay the van driver to transport or dispose of his waste, neither of them did anything wrong. 

It is, however, worth remembering that where you get a friend or neighbour to help you transport or dispose of your waste, it is still your responsibility to ensure it is handled appropriately. 

Had Mr Magee accompanied the van to explain that the driver was helping him for free, and to confirm that the material in the fully-loaded 3.5-tonne van was entirely his own household waste, the miscommunication may have been avoided.

It was regrettable that our contractor’s staff gained the impression that someone had been paid to bring the rubbish to the site. 

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Because of this, and the lack of information to the contrary, the recycling site staff had no choice but to class it as commercial waste and ask for the required payment.

For more information on permits and to apply, Somerset residents should go to www.somersetwaste.gov.uk. Those without internet access should visit any Somerset library for assistance.

NICK CATER
Somerset Waste Partnership