All UK households with wheelie bins could be hit with fines

UK households who use wheelie bins and other waste bins may be fined if they don't follow certain rules. The Government provides guidance to local councils, as to how and when they should issue penalty notices over breach of the regulations.

Those in charge say council officials can issue fines when householders "do not follow your waste collection rules" if their failure to comply causes or is likely to cause a nuisance, or has a "negative effect or is likely to have a detrimental effect on local amenities".

One example of when penalty notices can be issued is if people put out waste so that it obstructs the pavement or street, such as forcing people using wheelchairs or buggies to have to use the road. Others include if waste receptacles are left out for several days, restricting access to the pavement or street, or if ripped or overturned receptacles are left out, and/or if waste is likely to attract vermin.

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Councils, according to Gov.uk guidance, cannot issue fixed penalties over minor issues such as people putting things in the wrong bin by mistake, leaving bins out for a few hours before collection, or forgetting to close bin lids. Before issuing a fixed penalty, councils must write to the householder and explain how they have broken waste collection rules, how this has or is likely to cause nuisance or have a negative impact, what they must do, and how long they have to fix the problem.

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.