A number of local authorities are flouting the law by charging charity shops for waste disposal costs, according to the Association of Charity Shops. The organisation, which represents charity retail across the UK, has accused Norwich City Council and local authorities in Hampshire, including Southampton City Council, of ‘ripping off’ charity shops in their areas. It says most of the named councils charge charity shops for both the collection and disposal of their waste, ‘as if it was commercial waste, contrary to regulations’. David Moir, head of policy and public affairs at the association, said: ‘The Controlled Waste Regulations are quite clear – local authorities can only charge for the collection of waste from a charity shop. Authorities know this, yet they continue to rip shops off by including an extra charge for disposal of waste.’ In Hampshire, Eastleigh and Winchester, councils overcharge for all waste from charity shops, while Gosport and Portsmouth councils treat this waste as commercial waste, so refer shops to private contractors. The association says 108 English authorities could be overcharging, potentially costing charities hundreds of pounds a year. Birmingham, Norwich and Southampton were particularly targeted ‘simply because they have relatively large numbers of charity shops’. However, Birmingham issued a statement this week confirming it had changed its policies three or four months ago. But Lee Marshall, chair of the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC), rejected the association’s claims that councils were ‘ripping off’ charity shops. ‘When local authorities are pointed out their errors, they change their policies. Birmingham is a case in point.’ He told Surveyor it was an issue based on ‘interpretation of legislation’ and called on the Government to issue stronger guidance on new legislation. The association welcomed the stance taken by councils such as Ipswich, which collects waste from charity shops as part of its trade waste contract, but has arranged to ensure charity shops only pay an equivalent to the collection charge. Around 60 authorities have changed their policies since June 2006, and now ‘charge correctly’.