‘Stupid and petty’ bin fines slammed

You have your say

BIN day could soon prove a load of rubbish for some households who could face a £110 fine for overfilling bins.

Government guidance has recommended local authorities impose fixed penalties of between £75 to £110 for bins with lifted lids.

Other offences which could prove costly include putting the bin out on the wrong night or leaving it in the wrong place.

In comparison, the current cost of a fine handed out to shoplifters is £80.

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs claims the fines were there as a deterrent but they have been dubbed a stealth tax by the Conservative Party.

Reporter BEATRIZ AYALA took to the town centre streets to find out what residents thought.



Ridiculous and out of order — that’s the response of Michelle Cullen (38), from Watersheddings, to the prospet of being fined for having a too full bin.



She said: “We always put our bins out the night before collection day, as do lots of people.

“The fines are ridiculous, out of order and I wouldn’t pay them.

“I have two wheelie bins for refuse and three black boxes for recycling already. We recycle all the bottles and plastics and my lid is sometimes open.

“It’s just another way of getting money.”

Graham Bowker (67), from Failsworth, described the fines as a con and a money-making scheme.

He said: “I’m all for recycling to a point, but you can go mad. There’s a town in Japan where they take their own rubbish to the tip and there are 35 separate bins.

“If this is the law, there is not a lot you can do about the fines.

“But I can’t understand why normal, law-abiding people are getting fined.”

Manjula Mepani (48), from Coppice, said there were lots of reasons why a bin lid might be left open.

She said: “We are paying enough council tax as it is. If I was fined, I wouldn’t pay.

“Bin lids might open anyway, or other people might be putting their rubbish in your bin, it’s not always your fault.

“I believe in recycling but I don’t believe this will encourage you to recycle more.”

Tony Burgoyne (57), from Limeside, said being fined because a bin was open was stupid.

He said: “It’s getting out of hand. The old dustbins used to be made of metal which the binmen would throw on their backs and carry them away.

“Now it’s made easier with wheelie bins but throwing your rubbish out is being made harder. The fines are totally stupid and petty. If something is in the bin then it’s rubbish and needs collecting.

“Or do they want us to leave it on the side and have it scattered around by dogs?”

Anthony Bullock (32) and wife Gemma (28) both disagreed with the guidance.

Mrs Bullock said: “We’ve got an old mop in our wheelie bin at the moment which is sticking out and means we can’t close the lid.

“If we got a fine we wouldn’t pay it, not easily anyway.

“Everything is going up in price in our daily life. To then charge over £100 for not putting a bin in the correct place is all wrong.”

Mr Bullock said: “It’s a joke. To get fined for that and shoplifters not get as much, their priorities are all wrong.”

James Woodhall (59), from Failsworth, said households were doing enough already without having the threat of fines hanging over them.

He said: “It’s a load of rubbish. You have to sort your own recycling, then take the bins on to the path.

“You do the job for them anyway, what more do they want? You’re paying your council tax for that purpose.

“If I got fined, I’d tell them to stick it.”

His wife, Lee Woodhall (59), said: “It’s a joke. It’s turning people into criminals.

“We’re doing our bit anyway and recycle but our boxes aren’t big enough.”

Natalie Mills (32), from Chadderton, was determined not to pay.

Mrs Mills said: “It is outrageous the fine is so much. People should be given a proper written warning first.

“We wouldn’t pay a fine like that, we couldn’t afford it and I’m sure others couldn’t either.

“The council shouldn’t be coming down so hard on people, especially if they are doing their bit.”

Her son, Matthew (nine), said: “It’s my job to take the bins out. The fine is silly.”