There are some wheelie bin rules you may not be aware of
UK households using wheelie bins and other waste containers could face fines if they breach specific rules. The Government offers guidance to councils, on how and when penalty notices should be issued for not adhering to regulations.
Officials state that local authority workers can impose fines when residents “do not follow your waste collection rules” if their non-compliance creates or might create a nuisance, or has a “negative effect or is likely to have a detrimental effect on local amenities”.
Penalty notices can be handed out when people place refuse so it blocks the pavement or road, forcing wheelchair users or those with pushchairs into the road. Other examples include leaving waste containers out for multiple days, limiting pavement or street access, or abandoning torn or toppled bins that might attract pests.
According to Gov.uk guidance, councils cannot impose fixed penalties for minor breaches, such as mistakenly placing items in incorrect bins, leaving containers out briefly before collection, or failing to secure bin lids.
Before issuing a fixed penalty, local authorities must contact the householder in writing, explaining the rule breach, how it has caused or might cause problems, required actions, and the timeframe for resolution. Letters must also include what will happen if the householder does not comply.
If the householder does not comply, councils can then issue a notice of intent which tells them they may get a fixed penalty, and why, as well as how much they will have to pay. Householders then have the right to explain why they shouldn’t have to pay the penalty within 28 days of the date on the notice.
Local authorities can then issue a final notice 28 days after the notice of intent. Government guidance continues: “You must consider any responses from the householder before you do this”.
The notice must name the householder and explain how much they have to pay, with the maximum full penalty being £80, why they have been issued a fixed penalty, the payment deadline, what happens if they pay early, what happens if they do not pay, and how they can appeal.
