Council facing fines on recycling

Residents are being encouraged to recycle more rubbish across the city.

Residents' failure to recycle enough rubbish could cost Hull City Council hundreds of thousands of pounds in fines, a councillor has warned.

The city's recycling rate is just 26% of the total rubbish collected and the target figure is 45%, the city's council has confirmed.

Councillor Dave Woods, who is responsible for recycling across the city, said the rate had to increase.

Mr Woods said those who failed to recycle were "irresponsible".

The council could face fines of £150 for every tonne of rubbish over the target.

Mr woods said: "It is realistic to ask people to get more involved in the recycling.

He said that if residents who did not separate out their rubbish and recycle more material got involved, the figure of 45% was easily attainable.

"What we're saying is that we have a lot of services and we want to deliver those services and have better value for money," he said.

"If we have to give the government hundreds of thousands of pounds in fines, that's money that could be better spent."