CHANGES to environmental laws could do more harm than good says a Huddersfield skip hire firm.

Gareth Lees, Holme Valley Skip Hire boss, said changes to landfill tax and what can be dumped could mean more refuse being fly-tipped.

Mr Lees, who has 15 years' experience in the waste management trade, said: "Prices of our skips have gone up about 17.5%, just to keep up with increasing costs.

"Landfill tax has increased by £1 a year for the last five years and this year it's gone up by about £3, to about £17.50 a tonne.

"This means that for every tonne we put in a landfill we have to pay.

"A number of landfill sites have closed, so we are left going further to get rid of the rubbish, which causes increased costs.

"The industry doesn't see a penny of the landfill tax. It's not put back in to make it more efficient and to help meet their aims.

"It's a stealth tax. People on the street don't know about it."

Mr Lees

added: "A new directive says TVs, computers and some electrical equipment can't go in skips. This will lead to them being dumped at the side of the road."