The centre, at the Hopton Road Industrial Estate near Devizes, is the 10th to be built in the region.

The county council wants to reduce the 250,000 tonnes of rubbish that currently goes into its landfill sites, to help keep council tax down.

Councillor Toby Sturgis said: "This is a welcome addition to our recycling service to help reduce the ever increasing cost of waste disposal."

Waste increasing

He added: "The rubbish produced by households is increasing by 5% a year.

"Dumping this into a hole in the ground damages the environment and will cost the county council an extra �610,000 this year, the equivalent of half of one per cent on the council tax.

"Local people should do everything they can to reduce, re-use and recycle their household rubbish and this new centre will help people in Devizes and the surrounding area to do their bit.

Waste including paper, glass, cans, textiles, cardboard, green waste, timber, metals, fridges and cookers, rubble and soil can all be recycled at the centre.