Recycle your waste or pay the penalty (From Echo)

Recycle your waste or pay the penalty

8:35am Friday 16th May 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

RESIDENTS on Craylands will be the next in the district to face fines if they fail to recycle.

Basildon Council is extending the system next month following a successful pilot in Ghyllgrove, Basildon.

More than 900 homes on Craylands will be added to the scheme.

Figures reveal recycling rates have risen sharply in Ghyllgrove with the amount of recyclable waste picked up on each collection increasing from eight to 11 tonnes.

Stephen Hillier, councillor in charge of environment, said: "The scheme has already proved a success in Ghyllgrove where recycling rates have risen dramatically without any fines being issued so far.

"We hope residents on Craylands respond in the same way to help boost recycling and cut landfill waste."

No one was fined in Ghyllgrove, but several warnings were issued.

Letters informing residents of the move are being delivered to homes across Craylands.

Environmental enforcement officers will carry out patrols to check households are taking part in recycling from June. This will cover houses on Craylands but not flats.

Those who fail to recycle correctly will, on the first occasion, be given further information on how they can recycle. A formal warning will be given on the second occasion followed by a fine of £75 if they fail to recycle a third time within six months.

However, Mr Hillier said the emphasis remained firmly on educating, and not punishing, residents.

"We use a three-strikes-and-you're fined policy, that only affects the most persistent and stubborn non recyclers."

The scheme will eventually go district wide.

Residents will be expected to place plastic bottles, yoghurt pots, margarine and butter tubs, punnet tubs, plastic meat and cake trays, food and drinks cans, newspapers, magazines and directories, cardboard and aerosol cans in pink sacks and glass in their recycling box.