Welwyn Hatfield residents fined for dumping rubbish

IRRESPONSIBLE residents who dump rubbish bags before their collection days have been slapped with �100 fines.

Residents are expected to leave bin bags on the boundary of their property on the night before collection days, but many are left for an entire week.

After complaints from neighbours, or teams of spotters from Welwyn Hatfield Council’s environmental team, warning letters are issued.

Council officers often resort to rifling through waste for clues as to who dumped the rubbish, often away from their own home.

In the past five months, 27 residents have been given fixed penalty notices.

The wards of South Hatfield, Hatfield Villages, and Hollybush in WGC, have been singled out as hotspots.

South Hatfield resident John Mason said: “Dumped rubbish and litter is the main problem in this area.

“If the fixed penalty notices work to keep our areas clean and rubbish free so our children have somewhere decent to live and play then it has my backing 100 per cent.”

Council director Bob Jewell said: “Our officers aren’t out there trying to catch people for putting their bags out a couple of hours early – but several days is taking it to the extreme.

“If, for example, refuse collection day is Wednesday, then putting bin bags out on the previous Thursday is obviously not acceptable.

“Bin bags can be torn and lead to wider littering problems, making neighbourhoods unsightly.”

Mr Jewell added: “Our team also works with the community to educate residents about where refuse should be left for collection – dumping on common ground is not appropriate.

“Refuse should be placed on the boundary of a property.”

The council wasted �131,000 in the past year dealing with illegally dumped refuse and fly-tipping.