Wheelie Bin Law Guidance
I have now received some excellent clarification from Phil Merrick, Head of Community Services at Wychavon about the operation of the Bin Laws. (It almost restores my faith in local government!).
Here is a summary of the guidance:
1. You do not have to label wheelie bins with the labels provided at all, it is entirely optional.
2. You may leave your bins out the night before collection without fear of punishment.
3. You do not have to use the food waste caddy at all ! They are entirely optional. You are allowed to put food waste in the Grey Wheelie bin every week and ignore the food caddy entirely if you wish.
4. You will not be charged for replacing your bin unless it is lost or damaged repeatedly.
5. The Council are happy to offer telephone support to clarify if any specific item can be recycled or not.
(I still think the written guidance is full of holes and perhaps the Council could provide more extensive guidance on their website, that could be added to every time a question is asked)
6. The refuse & recycling crews who can sticker your bin do not have the power to issue fixed penalty fines. This can only be done by “Authorized Officers” of the Council, it is not automatic after any given number of “stickerings” and I am assured will only be used in “Extreme Cases”.
I think that if Mr Merrick had written the guidance that was published, many of the concerns raised could have been avoided.
The crazy government idea that not complying with refuse collection requirements is a criminal matter, remains absurd.
Having to rely on the common sense of the local authority to ignore the letter of the law is certainly not satisfactory, but as long as they do override stupid laws with common sense it looks like the worst case scenario will be avoided.
James
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Anna Mackison
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Editor
