Waste disposal tipping fees are set to rocket by almost 30 percent ? sparking fears of an increase in illegal dumping.

Now truckers are deciding whether to lobby Government over the fees hike.

Jonny Norton, manager of Mountaineer Trucking Services, said yesterday most truckers disagreed with the increases. ?We are trying to come together to argue with Government about it and, hopefully, we will be able to knock it (the fees) back down.?

The new tipping fees at Tynes Bay Waste Treatment Facility will come into effect tomorrow.

During regular operating hours from Monday to Friday the tipping will be $45 per tonne, up $10.

On weekends and statutory holidays the fee will be $55 per tonne also up $10, according to a notice in on Tuesdayfrom the Ministry of Works and Engineering.

And the minimum charge for quantities equal to or less than 0.1 tonne will be $8, up $3.

Mr. Norton said that it was hard to say if Bermuda would see more illegal dumping owing to the fees and he did not think his company would lose business.

Chris Shanks, of Chris Shanks General Trucking, however, felt more illegal dumping would occur, even though it was hard to get away with it. He also believed there would be more burning of trash. Mr. Shanks said the steeper fees would not really affect him because the extra costs would be borne by the customers. He also pointed out his business was more involved with the construction industry. Hunt?s Sanitation Services manager, Michael Johnstone, was upset initially after learning about the fee jump, although yesterday he seemed philosophical.

?Fees are a fact of life and it is expensive to run the waste facility.?

He added that even when there were no tipping fees people were still dumping trash illegally on the railway tracks.

?It is hard to say if there would be a significant increase.?

A trucking company which did not wish to be named said the increase was ridiculous and the community would suffer.

?I think it is ridiculous that Government keeps asking for more and more money. They charge enough as it is.

?They (Government) are just looking for more revenues to pay for what they have lost,? said the owner of the company.

The owner added the fee increase would probably cause more illegal dumping by potential customers.

The Ministry of Works and Engineering did not comment by Press time.