Exeter to give green light to 'bin bandits' recycling crackdown » Communities » 24dash.com

Householders who put the wrong kind of rubbish in their green recycling bin will have the option of paying for it to be collected, if councillors give the green light to the proposal today.

The recommended crackdown on the recycling "bin bandits" is to be considered by authority members in Exeter, Devon.

Around two dozen "green" bins a week are not collected because they contain unsuitable rubbish like food, dog mess, nappies, dead animals and even drugs paraphernalia.

The city's head of cleansing, Mike Trim, said ahead of today's meeting that the proposed move was aimed at the hard core of wilful green bin contaminators among the city's 50,000 households.

He said today that green bin contamination first attracted a warning then a strong letter, followed by further warnings.

The authority even had two environment education officers who were called to houses where green bins were found to be contaminated.

The council already issued notices under the Environmental Protection Act instructing households what they should put into their green bins.

Mr Trim said the new proposal was to give households the choice of having correctly-filled green bins collected in the usual way, or paying a charge - it could be up to £10 - for having the contaminated bin taken away as a special collection.

"We think it will be a deterrent. It is not a fine, but we hope it will deter people by giving them a choice," he said.

If households chose the special collection and then failed to pay the bill, they would be taken to court for non-payment, said Mr Trim.

If households did not opt for the special collection and their green bin remained contaminated, it would not be collected.

That could lead to it becoming an environmental hazard and being taken away - for which the household would be billed.

The city already has powers under the Clean Neighbourhood Act to issue £100 fixed penalties for green bin contamination - but CCTV or an eye witnesses was required, said Mr Trim.

Mr Trim said that "99.9% of Exeter residents are excellent. The city has doubled its recycling rate of 35% over the last four years."