CHARGES for certain types of waste and ID checks could be introduced at tips in a bid to save money.

Brighton and Hove City Council has launched a consultation today on the future of household waste recycling sites in the city.

People in Brighton and Hove are being urged to have their say on proposals to introduce charges for certain types of materials that are not household waste, like rubble, soil, plasterboard, tyres and asbestos.

The council is also consulting on whether it should carry out ID checks to ensure the people using the sites are Brighton and Hove residents.

Currently the two recycling sites off Old Shoreham Road in Hove and Wilson Avenue in Brighton accept household and non-household waste for free.

A spokesman said: "As accepting non-household waste costs the council, and therefore you the taxpayer, money, we’ve decided it may now be time to start charging for disposing of rubble, soil, plasterboard, tyres and asbestos.

"The money we charge would be ring-fenced and reinvested into Cityclean services like refuse, recycling and street cleansing.

"Many councils already charge for some or all of these waste types, including nearby authorities in East Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire."

ID checks currently only take place for van users to ensure they are Brighton and Hove residents and are not disposing of trade waste.

But the council said checks and other evidence show people from outside the city are using the recycling sites.

The spokesman added: "This means Brighton and Hove taxpayers are paying for the disposal of waste from non-Brighton and Hove residents.

"Introducing checks would save money and ensure the sites are only used by those local residents who pay for them."

The online consultation should take about ten minutes to complete and runs until May 31.

The findings will then be taken to the council’s environment, transport and sustainability committee to discuss and decide on whether and further action should be taken.

To have your say, visit the online consultation page.