£50 fine for putting rubbish out

Stockport Council could roll the scheme out across the borough

A woman has been fined £50 by her local council for putting her rubbish out on the wrong day.

Angela Garfield, 29, of Boscomb Street in Reddish, Stockport, put her bin bags in an alleyway behind her house three days before the collection was due.

She later received a fixed penalty notice from Stockport Council saying she must pay the fine within 14 days.

Stockport Council say the pilot scheme, in Reddish and Shaw Heath, follows concerns from residents about litter.

"It is a pilot scheme covering 219 households in Reddish and 370 in Shaw Heath," a council spokeswoman said.

"We introduced the pilot following concerns from residents about rubbish, caused by people putting their bin bags out too early.

"Rubbish was being caused by dogs and foxes biting into the bags and causing rubbish to blow around in the wind, generally being a health hazard."

Ms Garfield, who works as a customer services advisor, says more should be done to warn residents of the fine.

We introduced the pilot following concerns from residents Stockport Council

"I came back from work one lunchtime and I had a fine on my doorstep.

"It said it was for putting my rubbish out in the alleyway at the back of the house.

"I rang up and enquired about it and they said I had been leafleted and that I had no sort of defence.

"The council claim they have sent out leaflets but I don't know anyone in Reddish who knew about the fines until I got one.

"I'm very disappointed with the council and feel really harshly done by."

46 fines

Stockport Council say residents received leaflets explaining the scheme before it began in mid-November.

They say there is now much less rubbish on the streets and they have had positive feedback from residents.

So far 46 people have received fixed penalty fines.

If successful, the scheme could be rolled out across the borough.