Bournemouth and Poole councillors criticise government waste fine plans (From Bournemouth Echo)

Bournemouth and Poole councillors criticise government waste fine plans

9:00am Friday 19th March 2010 in

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COUNCILLORS in Bournemouth and Poole have criticised government plans to ban certain waste from landfill which could see householders fined for throwing the wrong things away.

Under the plans, paper and card, food, garden waste and plastics would have to be recycled, composted or burned for energy.

Food waste bins, already offered by some councils, would be extended to every home.

It would mean greater pressure on councils to enforce recycling rules and could lead to fines for residents who fail to sort their waste.

A 12-week consultation on the proposals was announced by Hilary Benn, the environment secretary this week.

The idea has come under fire from local councils – who have called for a less punitive, more co-operative approach.

Cllr Don Collier, Borough of Poole Cabinet member for the environment, said: “We are looking at moving into food waste down the line in our waste strategy – but we want to do that in a voluntary, co-operative way.

“We want to work with people – not tell them how to behave all the time. People are fed up with being told how to behave.”

Councillor Robert Lawton, Bournemouth’s portfolio holder for environment and transport, said the council’s focus was on “education and raising awareness.”

“Only a handful of households persistently refuse to engage in recycling their waste and as a council we would rather address the issue through home visits and targeted campaigning.

Fixed penalties would only be considered as a very last resort.”

The plans have also come under fire from the Local Government Association.

Gary Porter, chairman of the association’s Environment Board, said: “While councils are paying ever more to the government in landfill tax, they cannot also be expected to pay for building and running new plants to sort banned materials and process food waste.

“Councils do not want to be put in a position where they have to fine people for putting their leftovers in the wrong bin.”