Basildon residents receive 2,600 recycling warnings in six months

• Posted On: 28/07/2010 09:04:51

• Category: Recycling news

It has been reported that residents in the Basildon district of Essex have received around 2,600 warnings from the local council for breaking recycling rules in the last six months.

Basildon Council has adopted a compulsory recycling scheme which uses penalties rather than rewards and incentives to improve recycling rates. The local authority employs five full time ‘waste disposal inspectors’ – officially called environmental enforcement officers - who investigate residents’ rubbish.

If a resident is found to be throwing recyclable materials like paper or plastic cartons in black sacks with the rest of the general rubbish sent to landfill, or if they contaminate recycling bags with unrecyclable rubbish, they will receive a warning letter. Approximately 574 of these warning letters have been sent out to Basildon residents in the last six months.

The next stage

After receiving a warning letter, residents will get a formal warning if they continue to break the rules. This followed by a £75 fine, and you can be taken to court if you refuse to pay. This has happened to a man from Noak Bridge, who may become the first person in Basildon to be dragged to court for failing to pay his penalty.