BIN snoopers have dished out the first ever recycling fine in Basildon.

A family was given the £75 charge after a rubbish inspector rummaged through their bin bags and found leftover food had not been seperated from newspapers.

The fine was later cancelled when it was discovered the family, who are Chinese, had not responded to written warnings because they didn’t understand English.

Malcolm Buckley, councillor resposible for the environment, said: “This was an isolated case and a problem was caused because of a language barrier. Once our inspector visited them, they were happy to start recycling in the way they should. I think the fact this is the only ticket we have ever issued for recycling is proof the system is working.

“As far as I am concerned, if we are issuing tickets then we are failing, so I hope this one will be our first and last.”

The controversial compulsory recycling rules were introduced in the Basildon district in January 2008, in a bid to bolster local recycling rates.

Mr Buckley said the threat of fines had helped boost the rate from 27 per cent to 39 per cent in two years.

He said: “What this has done is save the council a great deal of money in landfill taxes, and we have used those savings to help keep council tax low.”

The rules also mean residents can be issued with a fixed penalty fine if they put out their rubbish early or leave it out on the wrong day.

Environmental enforcement officers patrol streets to carry out bin searches and issue tickets if households are not sticking to the “three strikes and you’re out” rules. Offenders are initially given tips on recycling, then a formal warning, before a fixed penalty of £75 is given.