Statement on Wiltshire Council HRC closures

The Hills Group is disappointed with Wiltshire Council’s decision to close the Household Recycling Centres at Purton and Lower Compton, Calne. The Council has been discussing the potential closure of HRCs with Hills since February 2022.

In May 2024 we were invited to submit revised financial models for the potential extension of the HRC contract. The increase in costs reflected in the financial models were approximately 75% and not the 400% as reported by some media outlets. The current contract is being charged based on a pricing structure submitted in 2014 and subject to an annual increase linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Over the last 11 years actual costs have increased significantly more than CPI and Hills has absorbed these costs over the term of the contract. Recent submissions considered these additional costs along with the cost of essential reinvestment in the sites which would allow us to continue to provide an essential service to the residents of Calne and Purton maintaining the high standards our staff have achieved consistently.