‘No sticks’ for our bins

LOCAL council leaders have given a firm thumbs down to proposals to fine householders who don’t recycle their rubbish properly.

Exeter City Council have unveiled plans to slap a £70 fine, on people who put their waste in the wrong container.

But Oldham’s ruling Liberal Democrat party have rubbished the idea.

Leader of the council Howard Sykes said: “We’re certainly not planning to send people around with big sticks. I don’t think that’s the way to take people with you.”

Under the plans, Exeter City Council will fine residents who put normal waste in their green recycling bins to compensate the council for the cost of cleaning it.

Those who fail to pay will be taken to court and prosecuted for non payment of the fine.

Exeter City Council is the first local authority in the country to introduce a fixed penalty for not recycling properly and other councils are expected to follow suit.

But Councillor Sykes believes that education is the key to tackling recycling apathy in Oldham.

He said: “We take a more pragmatic approach. It’s about explaining to people why we have to do it and what the financial penalties from Government will be if we don’t so it.

“We need to talk to people and make sure we offer a service that allows people to participate, If someone has a large house they might have room for a lot of bins, but if they have a flat we might have to offer them a different provision.

“It’s about talking to people and seeing if we can do it differently and tailoring it according to different people’s needs.”