Barnet extends risk of £1000 fine for not recycling
by Doretta
The London Borough of Barnet has decided to extend the threat of a £1000 fine to those who do not recycle, from a trial area to the entire borough. Everyone is now liable to receive this fine - the introduction is apparently made possible by powers given to councils in the Environment Protection Act 1990.
Difficult as this may be for the LA to administer, I'm sure "serial offenders" who do not recycle will be targeted and made examples of. The Daily Mail article headlined "The dustbin police" was linked to another "I got a £50 ticket for putting the rubbish out" where a lady from Reddish, Stockport received a fine for putting her black bags of rubbish out for collection three days early simply because she didn't want to miss her collection. I wonder if the same fine would be levied if people are going away on holiday and placed their bags for collection early - most probably. Apparently it is classed as fly-tipping!
The writing is clearly on the wall - if these "heavy-handed" approaches work they will become the norm.