Less rubbish is being dumped at county tips after council bosses moved to stop “white van man” abusing the service.

Oxfordshire County Council said waste left at its eight household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) had fallen by 14 per cent since permits were introduced for van and trailer owners.

The free permits are required by residents with “commercial-type” vehicles to prove they are not using them for business.

They were introduced in November to stop commercial waste being illegally off-loaded.

The council said concerns the move would lead to an increase in flytipping had proved unfounded, with illegal dumping down between November and March.

A council report said: “This means it is now easier to visit HWRCs, along with less time spent queuing.”

The 3,900 tonne drop in waste from November to June saved the council about £250,000.

The scheme cost £36,000 to set up and costs £20,000 a year to run.

But the Conservative-controlled council said a grace period before the rule was fully introduced from February 1 lead to “an increased level of verbal and physical abuse directed at the site operatives”.

It adds: “Where possible the council have contacted those repsonsible for this abuse and in some circumstances the police have also been contacted.”

No charges have been brought so far.

Council spokesman Owen Moreton said: “We’re pleased the scheme has been successfully introduced and is having a positive impact and saving taxpayers money.”

Liberal Democrat group waste spokesman Anne Purse said: “It is really good news. It’s important we should not support people using the centres for commercial waste.”

“Commercial type” vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tonnes when stocked with waste and trailers 1.8m to 3m in length need a permit. Homes can only have one permit, though the option of allowing more than one vehicle per permit is being explored.

Permit holders are limited to 12 trips a year in that vehicle.

Bosses hope the scheme will become paperless with the use of BlackBerry handheld devices.

The council runs centres at Banbury, Ardley, Old Abingdon Road in Oxford, Drayton, Crowmarsh, Stanton Harcourt, Stanford-in-the-Vale and Chadlington. The latter two will close in September to save £750,000 with a “super tip” opening in Kidlington next year.