RUBBISH is a touchy subject – especially if people fear the local council will send teams of "bin police" round to get heavy handed over "contraventions" in filling wheelie bins.
So far, the city council has used education and persuasion to bring bin bunglers into line.
However, some will fear the worst now that the cross-party Waste Working Group has been asked by cabinet member for the environment councillor Wayne Fitzg
erald to draw up a list of what could be defined as improper wheelie bin use.
This, apparently, could lead to householders being fined up to £100 for overfilling their bin if the lid won't shut, or for putting plastic bags full of excess rubbish out for collection.
At a time when people are being encouraged to cut down on waste and recycle, that could perhaps be justified, but threatening to fine people for putting their bin out the night before collection (which might be the only convenient thing to do – and why not?), or in "the wrong place" would come across as heavy-handed.
We're glad that Cllr Fitzgerald has himself said that whatever the final policy is, he doesn't want people to get the idea the city council would be acting like Big Brother.
We hope common sense will always come before criminalising people over household rubbish.
Read the full story: This wheelie bin could cost you a £100 fineWhy don't parents keep tabs on kids? THE yobs who are targeting Stanground Community Centre are a disgrace.
Don't their parents care what they're up to in the middle of the night?
The full article contains 274 words and appears in Peterborough ET newspaper.
