Ammanford woman fined over recycling problem
An Ammanford woman has been fined for failing to comply with the council’s kerbside recycling scheme.
Kelly May Bourne was convicted in absence for two offences contrary to section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court.
The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.
The court heard that the council’s environmental enforcement officers received a complaint of a number of bags of rubbish to the rear of a property in Parc Penrhiw in Betws.
On arrival, they found 18 blue bags, the majority of which contained non-recyclable waste. A number of them also had council stickers on, informing the owner that they had not been collected because they contained incorrect items.
Closer inspection showed the bags contained wood shavings mixed with animal faeces, children’s clothing, toys and food waste. The bag also contained a bank document addressed to Kelley May Bourne.
As the officers continued to inspect the waste a woman approached them and identified herself as Bourne. She admitted the bags belonged to her and told them she was about to sort it out and re-bag the waste into black bags. When one of the officers pointed out that the waste had been left out in the street for a number of days; Bourne said she had placed the bags out for collection the previous Wednesday, six days earlier.
Bourne had already received a notice instructing her to present her waste correctly and as she had now breached this notice, she was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 10 days.
Bourne said she would have difficulty paying the fine and she was advised to phone the office so that a payment plan could be sorted out. It was arranged that she would pay three monthly instalments of £20.
However, three months later the officers returned to Parc Penrhiw and found 16 black bags on the pavement to the rear of Bourne’s property. The court heard that she had also paid only one instalment of £20 and that she had failed to pay the two further payments amounting to £40.
Bourne admitted that the black bags belonged to her – the council limit is four - and that she had placed them out early for collection because she had been threatened eviction by her landlord if she did not clear them from the back yard.
The officers reminded Bourne on her failure to pay the remainder of her previous fine and advised her to contact the office to avoid further action being taken. Two letters were also sent, however, no further payment was made.
Bourne, aged 34, was fined £300 by magistrates and ordered to pay £150 towards prosecution costs.
It is now hoped this case will act as a warning to other residents who fail to comply with the council’s recycling scheme.
Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Philip Hughes said: “It is important people put only the correct materials in their blue bags and if residents are unsure, then please get in touch and our officers will be more than happy to advise them.
“It is also vital that residents do not put their waste out before their day of collection as it can attract vermin and other pests and cause rubbish to be strewn all over the streets.
“We don’t want to fine people; we want to help them as best we can. However, if a resident continually ignores the council’s advice and repeated warnings it has no choice but to prosecute them. We hope residents will act responsibly and help us to reduce the amount of rubbish littering our streets and co-operate with our recycling scheme as much as possible.”
Householders are being asked not to put their refuse out before 6pm the night before it is due to collected.
Kelly May Bourne was convicted in absence for two offences contrary to section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Ammanford Magistrates Court.
The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.
The court heard that the council’s environmental enforcement officers received a complaint of a number of bags of rubbish to the rear of a property in Parc Penrhiw in Betws.
On arrival, they found 18 blue bags, the majority of which contained non-recyclable waste. A number of them also had council stickers on, informing the owner that they had not been collected because they contained incorrect items.
Closer inspection showed the bags contained wood shavings mixed with animal faeces, children’s clothing, toys and food waste. The bag also contained a bank document addressed to Kelley May Bourne.
As the officers continued to inspect the waste a woman approached them and identified herself as Bourne. She admitted the bags belonged to her and told them she was about to sort it out and re-bag the waste into black bags. When one of the officers pointed out that the waste had been left out in the street for a number of days; Bourne said she had placed the bags out for collection the previous Wednesday, six days earlier.
Bourne had already received a notice instructing her to present her waste correctly and as she had now breached this notice, she was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 10 days.
Bourne said she would have difficulty paying the fine and she was advised to phone the office so that a payment plan could be sorted out. It was arranged that she would pay three monthly instalments of £20.
However, three months later the officers returned to Parc Penrhiw and found 16 black bags on the pavement to the rear of Bourne’s property. The court heard that she had also paid only one instalment of £20 and that she had failed to pay the two further payments amounting to £40.
Bourne admitted that the black bags belonged to her – the council limit is four - and that she had placed them out early for collection because she had been threatened eviction by her landlord if she did not clear them from the back yard.
The officers reminded Bourne on her failure to pay the remainder of her previous fine and advised her to contact the office to avoid further action being taken. Two letters were also sent, however, no further payment was made.
Bourne, aged 34, was fined £300 by magistrates and ordered to pay £150 towards prosecution costs.
It is now hoped this case will act as a warning to other residents who fail to comply with the council’s recycling scheme.
Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Philip Hughes said: “It is important people put only the correct materials in their blue bags and if residents are unsure, then please get in touch and our officers will be more than happy to advise them.
“It is also vital that residents do not put their waste out before their day of collection as it can attract vermin and other pests and cause rubbish to be strewn all over the streets.
“We don’t want to fine people; we want to help them as best we can. However, if a resident continually ignores the council’s advice and repeated warnings it has no choice but to prosecute them. We hope residents will act responsibly and help us to reduce the amount of rubbish littering our streets and co-operate with our recycling scheme as much as possible.”
Householders are being asked not to put their refuse out before 6pm the night before it is due to collected.
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