12 May 2011

Welsh residents face £100 fines for food waste mistakes
HOUSEHOLDERS are to be fined £100 for putting food waste in their general rubbish wheelie bins.

The tough new approach being adopted by a council for the first time is a response to Assembly Government plans to fine local authorities for failing to meet future recycling targets.

Yesterday, Blaenau Gwent council’s executive committee approved a new enforcement regime, designed to cut waste going to landfill.

Wheelie bins – used for general waste – and compost caddies will be monitored. Households putting out too much waste for landfill or discarding food scraps in their wheelie bins will be given a series of warnings. If they continue to break the rules, they will be ordered to pay a £100 penalty.

Welsh councils face annual increases in the tax on every tonne dumped in landfill, but also separate fines if they dump too much in landfill or if they recycle too little.

All councils are expected to recycle at least 52% of the waste they collect in 2012-13, a statutory requirement under the Wales Waste Measure 2010. Many councils are currently well below that target, and Blaenau Gwent’s rate is just 35%.

John Parsons, Blaenau Gwent’s director of environment and regeneration, said the Waste Measure gave the Assembly Government the option to fine councils which failed to reach recycling targets. Landfill tax increased by a further £8 per tonne of waste last month, bringing the total to £56 per tonne.

The council sends “thank you” letters to households that recycle, and waste wardens visit those that do not.

However, Mr Parsons said 60% of residents were still not recycling their food waste, and a “robust enforcement procedure” was needed to ensure participation.

John Warman, general secretary of the Protection of Privacy campaign, said £100 rubbish fines were Draconian.

“A lot of people have come on board on recycling and are fairly well disciplined in separating their waste. But it does happen sometimes that people are busy and might, in complete innocence, get something mixed up,” he said.

Last autumn Rhondda Cynon Taf council introduced a “sort and save” scheme which awards points to residents for taking waste to a recycling centre in Glyncoch. Points can be converted into cash for each individual or donated to sports initiatives or schools.

Vale of Glamorgan Council has drawn up plans for a lottery for recycling households, with monthly prize draws.

A spokesman for Cardiff council said: “Cardiff council does not currently fine people for presenting their food waste in the wrong bin or bag. The council is aware there are powers available to do this but, with extensive education and communication processes in place, the council does not currently choose to use these powers.”

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