We have the option of doing that as well, but I don't think it's possible, here in the People's Republic of Seattle, to completely opt out of the home trash collection fees. And taking a load of trash to the dump in Seattle is a whole lot more expensive that $5.00
It's different when it's a required, regular fee such as the way the article relates the matter in the UK. There is great concern that it will only increase illegal dumping and cause a great public health risk.
We also burn a lot of our trash, unless there is a burn ban in effect. If you burn it regularly and don't build too big a fire, you don't have to pull a permit. It would not be cost effective to burn, if you had to pay a $50.00 fee for a permit.