Fixed penalty fines on way for persistent waste non-payers
DOZENS of households have been written to after they failed to put payment stickers on their black refuse bags – and persistent offenders could soon face a £60 fine.
A pay-as-you-throw scheme was introduced in February.
While parishes are responsible for ensuring parishioners comply with the new waste scheme, the Waste Disposal Authority is looking after enforcement for the first two years to allow the system to bed in.
‘Any bags that do not have a payment sticker are logged by the contractor and left,’ States’ Trading Assets deputy managing director Richard Evans said.
‘That automatically records the location, using GPS, and we receive a report in the morning. Our staff then follow these up and in most instances the householder has already dealt with it.
‘If a bag is still there, they will make a judgement as to whether it is likely to cause an obstruction. If not, and if it is clear where it has come from, it will be left for the household to deal with.
‘If not, we collect it and will then look to identify the owner. After a typical night our team will pick up fewer than 10 bags in total.’
About 30% of the island’s population lives in St Peter Port and, when the scheme started, pictures of fly-tipping there were posted on social media.
But Mr Evans said that St Peter Port is mostly no different to other parishes.
‘There are a few areas around central Town where historically there have been issues, for instance with waste being set out on the wrong evenings,’ he said.
‘We still get some issues in these areas, but by and large there are very few. Even in most communal areas there are very few bags being left without a payment sticker.
‘We will be tackling each of these areas individually. In one case, there was a communal bin, which seemed to attract problems. We have removed that bin and asked households to set out outside their homes instead. The issue has gone away instantly.’
Around 90 households have been sent a polite reminder after they have left out bags without payment.
‘So far, seven of them have received a follow-up letter after a second incident, which is an official warning that any further repeat will be liable to a fixed penalty of up to £60,’ Mr Evans said.
Parish refuse rates have dropped this year, as the parish pays only for collection, without the need for a tipping fee. Processing is paid for through the £85 standing charge, which is paid to the States, and bag stickers.
Mr Evans said collection costs would have increased because they now included food collections and kerbside recycling.
‘The cost is something each parish, individually or collectively, negotiates with their contractor, and does not involve us,’ he said.
‘However, we believe there is scope for greater efficiency, which could be a saving to parishioners.
‘The primary focus for now has been to get the new services up and running and give them time to bed in.
‘The parishes, along with their contractors, have done an excellent job in that regard and we commend them for it.’
