Households who put out their post-Christmas bins this week could be fined for ‘excess rubbish’.
Hounslow Council is warning residents with wheelie bins that it will only collect waste that is in the bin and £80 fines could be levied against anyone who leaves additional bags on the street. It says the tough-love approach is to encourage families to think about what they are throwing away and to recycle more.
Councillor Steve Curran, leader of Hounslow Council, said: “Christmas and the New Year sees people across the country produce more waste than at any other time but more than 70 per cent of household waste can be recycled. As well as preventing rubbish from being sent to landfill sites which harm the environment, recycling saves money – around £100 for every tonne of rubbish recycled.
“Wheelie bins can only hold so much waste so they make residents really think about what they are throwing away. If it’s not nappies, sanitary items, polystyrene, pet bedding like cat litter or plastic film or wrappers then recycle it. So many everyday things can be recycled so think before you bin it.”
Bags placed beside or on top of wheelie bins will not be collected, and neither will bins where the lid is open or not firmly closed, the council is warning.
Households with excess waste will be expected to dispose of it themselves at Space Waye Reuse and Recycling Centre, in Pier Rod, Feltham, or a civic amenity in neighbouring boroughs of Richmond, Hillingdon or Ealing.
The council said more than 40,000 households are now using wheelie bins which is says stop bags being torn by foxes and birds, resulting in cleaner streets. A further 24,000 households will receive a new bin in the new year.
In November police were called after anti-wheelie bin protesters blocked council leader Curran's home.
For details of collection days see www.hounslow.gov.uk/collection_days and for tips on making the most of your leftover food visit www.lovefoodhatewaste.com
