VOLUNTARY and charity groups will soon have to fork out to visit Household Recycling Centres in order for Wiltshire Council to reduce queues and raise £40,000 a year.

The move comes after receiving countless complaints by residents about the queues outside the centres on weekends as a result of the centre’s opening hours being reduced last year.

The fee, of £44 for six visits per year, or £70 for up to 12 visits, will come into force in September – a move which is not welcomed by some charities.

James McDonald, retail director at Dorothy House said: “We oppose the changes suggested and this is really disappointing, as our charity shops have a positive impact on the rates of reuse and recycling and helps to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, so in effect reducing cost for the council, and giving a net social benefit to the community, environment and the council finances.

“In the Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 it makes it clear that waste produced from a charity shops selling donated goods that have originated from domestic property, should be counted as household waste and not commercial waste.

“Changes asking charities to pay for recycling will simply reduce the amount of money we have to care for patients in Wiltshire, and reduce the health and social impact benefits we can give to the people of Wiltshire, and in the long term increase costs to the council.”

In the delegated decision made by Toby Sturgis, cabinet member for waste, it is also understood 27 schools across the county, currently in receipt of a HRC Discretionary Pass, will also have to cough up the funds. Seven housing associations will also have to do the same.

Cllr Trevor Carbin, who represents Holt and Staverton raised his concerns about queues last year. He added: “Clearly the costs saved by the council will be shunted onto the charities and will have an impact on the good work they do. This is another poor decision by Wiltshire Council, and I suspect it won't actually affect those queues.”

Queues started to build outside each of the 11 household recycling centres, run by Hills Waste Solutions on behalf of Wiltshire Council, last June as each closed its doors for two days a week.

Jerry Wickham, portfolio holder for waste said while it was a tough decision to make, savings have to be made. He added: “I am of the belief that the centre should be offered to the people it is for such as householders who are paying their council tax. I am genuinely sympathetic to the charities and what we are saying is that we are not stopping them from using the facilities but we are looking for a small charge irrespective of the organisation. Any revenue we get in will be offset to other costs we have elsewhere.”

The new charges for charities and voluntary groups comes into effect on September 5.