HOW YOU CAN BE FINED £500 FOR 2 COMMON BIN HABITS
- A refuse expert has shared how Brits can be fined £500 for common bin errors
Refuse experts have shared how Brits can be fined £500 if they are caught breaking rules concerning two seemingly innocuous bin habits.
While putting out the bins can be a chore that many want to avoid - those that do get lumbered with the task should be aware of a potential penalty they could be handed without any prior warning.
Broken or an overflowing bin - due to the potential resulting effects of environmental pollution - could see Brits hit with a £500 fine, waste management company Wheeldon Brothers warned.
They also said households should stay on top of keeping their rubbish in check - rather than relying on local councils - because it can takes weeks for replacement wheelie bins to arrive.
The company told the Mirror: 'Brits are unaware of this little-known rule that they could face fines up to £500 for having an overflowing or broken bin.
'This is from The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 dictates that homeowners are responsible for ensuring their bins are not overflowing.'
The firm added: Preventing bin overflow is important not only for aesthetic reasons but also for reducing potential health hazards.
'Overflowing bins can attract pests like rats and insects, increasing the risk of disease transmission and creating unsanitary conditions in the area'.
The experts advised that, by managing waste responsibly, homeowners can help reduce their carbon footprint.
The waste management experts added: 'We urge Brits to remain vigilant in maintaining the condition of their bins. Waiting for a replacement bin can take over two weeks, as per local council procedures.
'Therefore, it's crucial to act swiftly upon noticing even minor issues, such as a small crack, to avoid inconvenience and potential fines.
'In addition to potential fines, neglecting bin maintenance can lead to logistical challenges and delays in waste collection services as binmen may refuse to collect it.'
'By keeping bins from overflowing or breaking, homeowners help streamline waste disposal processes and support the efficient functioning of local services.'
The advice from waste management experts comes after a council slapped a couple with a hefty £400 littering fine after one of them put an envelope in a public bin, before they were tracked down by the address on the front.
Stoke City Council hit Deborah and Ian Day with individual £200 fines after fishing out the envelope which contained their address.
Deborah Day, 47, who lives on Dividy Road, in Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent, was on her way to work when she put the envelope in the public bin on her street.
But council investigators say this breaches sections 87 and 88 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and constitutes it as an offence of littering because household waste cannot be put in a public bin.
The hairdresser said: 'I have received a letter from the council with a fine of £200 and my husband (Ian) has received one too because apparently we're both to blame.
'It is for an empty envelope inside a bin and the council has even attached a photo of the envelope which had my address on it in their letter'.
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