Brighton residents are being unfairly fined for leaving recycling next to overflowing bins by the council’s litter cops, an MP says.
Brighton Pavilion Caroline Lucas says that she has received a surge in casework from residents and businesses about disproportionate penalties for minor infractions.
In an open letter to Councillor Tim Rowkins, who chairs Brighton and Hove City Council’s environment committee, Ms Lucas highlighted one resident who was given a £400 fine for leaving recycling next to an overflowing communal bin.
Another resident received a fine for momentarily placing recycling outside their home while making multiple trips to the bin.
Cllr Rowkins says that the council’s enforcement team do not issue fines for minor offences when there is disruption to collections across a wide area.
Her letter states: “Given the current increase in missed collections in the city, the matter has become even more pressing, since overflowing bins is likely to become a bigger problem, and more people might be tempted to place bags of household recycling next to them.
“I do recognise that fly-tipping in the city is a very real problem which costs the local authority, but in the cases I’m being contacted about, educating residents and businesses about best practice, and / or issuing a warning feels more appropriate than a £400 fine for a first offence.”
Ms Lucas asks whether enforcement officers are being instructed to use their discretion when cases are clearly linked to missed collections and whether an amnesty on issuing fixed penalty notices (FPNs) is being considered, especially while there are increased missed collections across the city.
Under current policy, FPNs are issued when a household waste bin or box causes (or is likely to) cause a nuisance, or when it has (or is likely to have) a negative effect on local amenities or access.
Cllr Rowkins said: “Following conversations with residents and businesses, we have been reviewing our enforcement policies.
“We want to be able to keep our city tidy, but in a way that is fair and proportionate.
“Where there is disruption to bin collections across a wide area, the Environmental Enforcement team do not issue FPNs to residents who leave waste next to communal bins and where no alternative bins have capacity for residents to dispose of their refuse.
“If there are any instances where residents believe this has happened, we will review their case.”
Tell all jumped up council ‘officer’ to take hike. They can ask for your details but you don’t have to give them..
We have photographic evidence of someone taking bags out of bins and leaving on the floor next to the bins
Residents should be invoicing the council for missed collections.
Or withholding part of council tax if they are not getting the service they pay for.
You should probably not be offering people advice to do unlawful activities, Barry.
How does lady Lucas propose the bin police distinguish people from first time offenders.
Saying that they are pretty rubbish at catching businesses who fill the bins up when they should be using commercial waste services.
Hmm, I’m not keen on punishments in this situation. The reason why it has happened is because the bins are overfilled; this is because of capacity is incorrectly calculated, or missed collections.
Whilst I agree that if your bins are full, you shouldn’t add to it, and learning to recycle more massively reduces the waste you generate, the reliability of the service right now is very clearly not there.
I’ve just recieved one of these. Unfairly I believe. Are there steps I can take to challenge this? Any links, jhelp or support would be well appreciated.