Council bosses are to hand out £200 fines to anyone caught throwing their household rubbish in a public bin in new crackdown on waste cheats
- People caught throwing their rubbish in public bins could face a fine of £200
- South Gloucestershire council say home waste is regularly thrown in street bins
- Public reaction from residents to the scheme has been largely negative
- They say the council’s fortnightly rubbish collections are inefficient
Disposing of your rubbish in a street bin might seem like the act of a good citizen.
But you could face a punishing fine if officials decide it is the wrong kind of litter, under a trial scheme being run by a local authority.
Waste collectors for South Gloucestershire council will be searching public bins to check for rubbish that they believe should have gone into the household refuse instead.
Anyone caught after unloading rubbish from their home can be given a £200 fine.
South Gloucestershire council will be searching public bins to check for rubbish that they believe should have gone into the household. Anyone caught after unloading rubbish from their home can be given a £200 fine
The Bristol-based council says home waste is routinely thrown into street litter bins – an action that counts as an offence.
They argue that this causes the bins to fill up quicker, resulting in more litter being dropped on the ground and the area looking unpleasant.
However, the public reaction to the scheme has been largely negative with residents complaining that household rubbish is put into street bins only because the council’s fortnightly rubbish collections are inefficient.
Chris Roly wrote on Facebook: ‘If the council goes ahead with this plan I can see some householders beginning to take part in early-hours fly tipping. Surely you want families to deposit their rubbish in a bin?’
The Bristol-based council says home waste is routinely thrown into street litter bins – an action that counts as an offence. They argue that this causes the bins to fill up quicker, resulting in more litter being dropped on the ground and the area looking unpleasant