Crackdown on bin collections

Bin 'police' in Cannock Chase district will refuse to collect household rubbish for a raft of 'offences, instead leaving tags to reprimand residents.

A new recycling scheme will come into force from June 30 and will see red and blue tags placed on bins not complying with the strict code of conduct drawn up by council chiefs.

A red tag is left if refuse or recycling waste is not collected because a bin lid was open or there are incorrect items in it which could cause contamination resulting in a load being rejected at the recycling site.

Side refuse, where bags are placed next to bins, or bins that are "too heavy", will also not be taken.

Blue tags will be used to admonish people for placing inside items that could be recycled in their green bin.

Types of waste are listed in a leaflet distributed to tell people which items should go in which bin. There are 17 items for the recycling box, 11 of which are new, such as waxed drinks cartons, carrier bags and glass.

Among 14 acceptable items for brown bins are real Christmas trees and food leftovers. There are 18 items which can safely be placed in paper bags such as other paper bags, Yellow Pages and cardboard items.

A total of 20 items, including rubber ducks, aluminium foil and turf, soil and dirt should not be put in any of them.

Cannock Chase Council Labour group leader Doug Thomas said: "The world's gone mad. It just beggars belief what they are expecting people to do."

Council leader Neil Stanley defended 'Green for Go' recycling improvements including 15 new recyclable items. He said: "If people can't be bothered to take 30 seconds to ensure they put refuse in the correct container, it only ends up costing them as taxpayers."