Charges at Surrey’s recycling centres have been blasted as “illegal” by opposition councillors as calls are made to the government to take action.

Surrey County Council’s Liberal Democrats have slammed the Conservatives for their introduction of the dubbed ‘tory tip tax’ on September 1, which has seen visitors to any of Surrey’s nine recycling centres charged £5 to recycle a tyre or £4 to recycle a waste bag.

The charges focus on waste from construction, such as plasterboard, bricks and tiles, as well as tyres.

From August: Residents launch petition urging Surrey County Council to scrap recycling charges amidst fly-tipping fears

Fears were raised that the charges could increase fly-tipping when the plans were announced in the summer – but Councillor Mike Goodman, cabinet member for environment and planning, said residents would be allowed to get rid of one bag of DIY waste for free each day.

Surrey Comet:

Reported incidents of fly-tipping across Surrey in the financial year 2014/15

The move was said to save the council £1.8m to offset the rising cost of adult social care.

But the Lib Dems now say that legislation passed by the coalition Government in March 2015 prevents councils from charging residents to dispose of any waste from DIY, as it considers this to fall under household waste.

Councillor Stephen Cooksey, Liberal Democrat spokesman on highways and environment said the charges were illegal.

He said: "What a mess the Tories have got themselves in. The last government rightly passed legislation to encourage residents to recycle and protecting them from charges.

“But Surrey County Council has pushed through its unpopular "tory tip tax" regardless of what the law says.

“I am calling for an urgent re-think from the county council as we should be doing everything in our power to make it easier for people to recycle and in doing so, protect our beautiful countryside from fly-tipping.

“Surrey should pay back the money it has taken from residents if these charges are found to be illegal.

“And I have written to the Department for Communities and Local Government asking them to take action against Surrey County Council and pointing out to them that they are not above the law.”

Surrey Comet:

Black bin bags of bricks which were dumped in Epsom

Responding to Cllr Cooksey, Cllr Goodman said: “We’re aware of these reports and will watch with interest.

“We need to make savings across council departments because we face rising demand for services including adult social care, where demand is rising by £24 million each year.”

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: “We’re determined to boost recycling and that’s why we’ve brought in legislation to stop councils charging residents for household waste.

“Guidance is clear that should include any household waste from DIY.”

A petition against the charges so far has garnered 6,699 signatures from across Surrey. To sign, visit petitions.surreycc.gov.uk/waste-charges.