THREE Tendring Ukip councillors have clashed with Essex County Council over rubbish disposal.

They have accused the county council of discriminating against householders and the disabled, adding planned changes will worsen fly-tipping.

However, Essex County Council defends its “new rules” as “cracking down on those suspected of bringing in business or commercial waste as we are not legally permitted to accept this type of waste at our centres.”

Richard Everett has said that as a business-owner with a sign-written van, he is being “victimised.”

The Rush Green ward councillor said staff at the Rush Green Recycling Centre have told him that after October 31, he won’t be able to use his own van to dispose of household waste.

Mr Everett is self-employed and only has the use of the one vehicle to remove household rubbish.

“I do not wish to break the law regarding commercial or business waste but I do wish to be able to deposit my household waste just like any other resident of Essex,” he said.

The councillor has already sent a formal complaint to council officers and said he would take his case to the local government ombudsman if need be.

The Clacton-based education charity CADOWS, which trains disabled adults, has also been told it faces being charged to dump its waste.

Trustee Chris Simons said: “We have paid nothing so far but we can’t afford to pay to dump it.”

The charity currently uses a bus to dispose of waste and has been told it won’t be allowed to in future.

Coun Andy Pemberton approached the county council about what arrangements are being made for charities such as CADOWS.

“I think it is disgusting that Essex County Council are discriminating against such charities with disabilities,” said the Peter Bruff ward councillor.

Hamford councillor Anne Davis believed such changes would worsen fly-tipping, which is already a headache for landowners, and demanded a re-think.

Coun Simon Walsh, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and waste, said after October 31 van users will still be able to dispose of household waste.

“Under the law waste produced by charities is classed as commercial, so we are unable to accept it as part of our household waste disposal service,” he said.

Mr Walsh also told Mr Pemberton it would cost too much to allow free disposal for all charities, so they need to make arrangements for commercial disposal.

The county councillor added he shared concerns over flytipping but studies in other counties showed changing the nature of recycling services do not create extra fly-tipping, but those who fly tip, face fines of up to £50,000, he warned.