PUBLIC concern prompted recycling centre chiefs to reassure Sidmouth and Ottery residents they will not be charged to dispose of household waste at the Woods Farm facility.

PUBLIC concern prompted recycling centre chiefs to reassure Sidmouth and Ottery residents they will not be charged to dispose of household waste at the Woods Farm facility.

Charges for soil, rubble, tyres and plasterboard take effect on Friday (April 1).

Items such as garden waste, furniture and old electrical appliances will still be accepted free of charge, said Devon County Council (DCC).

“Recycling centres are experiencing heavy queues of people trying to dispose of their waste before Thursday,” said DCC cabinet member for recycling, Councillor Roger Croad.

Charges across all of DCC’s recycling centres include:

- �2 per bag of rubble, which could contain brick, stone, gravel or soil, and ceramic sanitary ware.

- �2 per tyre.

- �7 per bag, or full sheet, of plasterboard.

- �20 per bag, or full sheet, of asbestos.

DCC said it is legally obliged to provide recycling centres for household waste to be accepted free of charge, but does not have to accept non-household materials.