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Councillor Sterry asked: A recent social media post has caused concern locally, as it suggested that recycling crews are writing down house numbers of residents who do not present food waste caddies, and that fines are being issued as a result. In light of this, could you please provide clarity for residents on the following: 1. Is it correct that crews are recording addresses where food waste is not presented? 2. Are fines being issued to households for not using food waste caddies, and if so, under what powers? 3. Is this an agreed council policy or a contractor-led initiative? 4. What steps are in place to ensure residents are properly informed before any enforcement action is taken? Given the public concern, I think it’s important that Waste & Recycling provide a clear statement to reassure residents and set out the actual position. Councillor Forsey responded: The council routinely monitors waste and recycling presentation, to ensure waste is disposed of correctly, recycling is maximised, and to reduce missed collections. The duties for councils regarding presentation of waste are part of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. For offences of this nature, the council operates an education-first approach. If repeated non-compliance, there may ultimately be a fine, but it is a last resort. I'm not aware of any fines that have been issued for this specific offence. The council implemented its current education and enforcement team following member consultation in 2018. This has been supplemented by additional staff funded by the producers of waste. All residents were written to in 2019, and all domestic bins are labelled with clear instructions on items prohibited from bins. Any resident found to be using the waste system incorrectly receives a further letter and is visited by an education officer to address what needs to be done. If you have concerns about any property, please let us know, and we would be happy to visit. It's vital that we maximise our recycling. Whilst we currently have one of the highest recycling rates in the country, we still throw away 4,000 tonnes of food per year. This cost the council £440,000.
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