Cheshire East might have to scrap some of its controversial rubble charges if government plans to change the rules around charging for DIY waste go ahead.

The council introduced its rubble charge in January 2018.

It currently charges for all non-household items such as rubble, hard core, soil, ceramics, glass and plaster, which are dumped in the rubble skip by householders following DIY work.

But the government plans to change the rules that allow some local authorities to charge for DIY waste, meaning households will no longer have to pay to get rid of such waste.

Under the proposals, household DIYers would not be charged for items such as plasterboards, bricks and bath units.

The proposals – now being consulted on by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – are part of a fresh move to crack down on fly-tipping, which has increased since the beginning of the pandemic.

A number of councils in England will also be awarded grants to tackle fly-tipping through trial projects, including CCTV to target hotspots.

Environment Minister Jo Churchill said: "When it comes to fly-tipping, enough is enough. These appalling incidents cost us £392 million a year and it is time to put a stop to them.

"I want to make sure that recycling and the correct disposal of rubbish is free, accessible and easy for householders. No one should be tempted to fly tip or turn to waste criminals and rogue operators.

"Furthermore, the funding that we have announced for local authorities today will help them trial innovative new projects to put a stop to fly-tipping. We will learn from the successes – and replicate them."

She added: "There were over 60,000 fly-tipping incidents with construction, demolition and excavation material in 2020/21, an increase of 18% from 2019/20.

"A number of local authorities charge for construction waste such as paving slabs and roofing materials, but the government is today consulting on amending legislation so that householders cannot be charged for DIY waste at recycling centres."

The government banned backdoor charges on local residents disposing of household rubbish at household waste centres in 2015 and since then guidance has made it clear that this includes DIY household waste.

However, it says, around a third of local authorities still charge for certain types of DIY waste, using rules designed for construction waste. The changes outlined in the technical consultation published this week will change this rule.

Cheshire East currently charges £3.50 for a sheet or bag of plasterboard and the same for a bag of hardcore/rubble/soil/ceramics/glass. A maximum bag size is also stipulated.

A spokesperson for the council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The council welcomes any government financial support that would help to tackle the very anti-social practice of fly-tipping.

"In Cheshire East there is no evidence to suggest that fly-tipping has increased as a result of the rubble charge, which was introduced following positive feedback from a consultation with residents in 2016-17.

"The council must accept, free of charge, any materials that are classed by the Environment Agency as 'household' waste but can make a charge for waste that is classed by the EA as 'non-household' – such as rubble, DIY and construction waste. Until we have more details of what is proposed by Defra, we are not able to comment further."