Environmental legislation over bins retracted

Environmental legislation over bins has been retracted as the fines were considered too harsh by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Fines had been introduced for households who make mistakes over putting their bins out for collection, which totalled up to more than £100 in some cases. However, this legislation has been retracted and fines have been reduced as the government found that fines for householders who make "innocent mistakes" over their rubbish were too harsh.

Under new plans outlined in the waste review last year, penalties that can be handed out by local authorities will be reduced from £75-£110 to between £60 and £80. Those who pay up early could be fined as little as £40. Additionally, the government has also pledged to change the law to remove other fine threats in regards to waste management.

According to research from Defra, residents were facing fines from councils for putting their rubbish out just an hour too early, or for leaving bin lids open. Local authorities have denied that this is the case, saying that small one-off mistakes are not usually punished.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said: "The threat of a £110 fine for a simple mistake such as putting your bin out an hour early suggest the punishment doesn't fit the crime.

"Today is the first step towards a return to common sense. People should be encouraged to do their bit by putting out their rubbish in the right way, but hefty fines are not the way to do it."

Local Government Association's environment board chairman Clyde Loakes has hit back at these accusations, saying that local councils do not penalise one-off small mistakes. He said that the legislation is essentially in "helping councils to clamp down on fly-tippers and people who leave unsightly rubbish creating a blight on their roads, streets and neighbourhoods."

Posted by Joseph Hutton