MP welcomes plans to remove bin fines

Andrew Bridgen MP has welcomed Government plans to prevent councils in England fining householders who break minor bin collection rules.

Under the proposed changes, to be outlined in a consultation, local authorities would only be allowed to issue fines if they can prove residents are ‘causing harm to local amenity’ by putting out their rubbish incorrectly.

Andrew said: “Bullying people with fines is not the way to get people to boost their recycling rates. Fortunately North West Leicestershire has a high rate of recycling and that has improved drastically since the Conservatives took over the running of the Council in 2007.

“People are happy to recycle and do not need threats from Councils and Government to force them into it, therefore people should not live in fear of heavy handed Councils imposed fines and penalties for innocent mistakes.”

The tighter rules would still allow councils to take action against householders who cause problems for their neighbours or the local environment by the way they dispose of their rubbish.

Portfolio holder Alison Smith said: “We have used an approach of encouragement with regards to recycling rather than the system of fines and penalties favoured by the previous Labour Government. I welcome the announcement that the Conservative led Coalition Government favour the approach taken by the Conservative run North West Leicestershire District Council.”

Nationally Almost 5,000 fixed penalty notices worth £215,955 were issued between May 2010 and April 2011 for offences such as using the wrong sacks for recycling or overfilling wheelie bins.