Councils avoid fining public over bin errors

Virtually no fines have been issued for people overfilling their bins or putting them out early in the region, it has emerged, as council bosses insist they do not want to punish residents.

This week the Government cut the amount authorities can fine people who breach rules from a maximum of £110 to £80.

But figures show that many of the region's authorities, including Cannock Chase, Stafford, Wolverhampton, Walsall and Sandwell Councils did not issue any fixed-penalty notices at all in 2011. Dudley issued fines, generating a total of £200, in the last financial year. TaxPayers' Alliance spokeswoman Emma Boon said: "This is a victory for residents. We have always campaigned against these fines.

"You have already paid to have your rubbish taken away so it's a disgrace some authorities charge people extra if they get it wrong."

Chris Huddart, Wolverhampton City Council's head of waste management, said: "While the approved policy of the council is not to take side waste or bins with raised lids, our approach is to change behaviour rather than punish non-conformance of our policy."

Councillor Ian Jones, Sandwell's neighbourhood services chief, echoed his view. "If it ever reached a situation where a fine was needed we feel it should be proportionate to what sort of offence may have been committed," he said.

"Fortunately the residents in Sandwell are proving to be very good at recycling and understand the reasons for it."

Stafford Borough and Cannock Chase councils said they had never fined residents. Councillor Tracy Wood, cabinet member for environment and leisure in Dudley, said the power was always used as a last resort.