At this week’s Environment Committee approval was given for
the adoption of new regulatory measures within the Regulatory Reform (Scotland)
Act 2014 to encourage householders to correctly use their waste and recycling containers.
Under the Environment Protection Act 1990, householders have a responsibility
for ensuring that they correctly present their bins for collection but the Act
didn’t provide for sufficient measures to compel householders to return bins
to their correct storage point. In some areas this has resulted in bins being
permantely left on the pavement which causes an obstruction to pedestrians, wheelchairs
and prams, creates a fire risk and becomes an attraction for gulls as well as being
detrimental to the visual amenity.
Now,
where bins are being left to sit continuously on the pavement, householders
will be issued with an advisory letter and if they fail to respond formal
action will be taken which may result in a report being submitted to the Procurator
Fiscal. I was assured by the director of environment that any measure taken
will be proportionate and informal in the first instance as of course there
might be good reason why a bin hasn’t been returned to its correct storage place
but the new regulations will allow action to be taken to ensure that bins aren’t
left out from one week to the next just because people can’t be bothered
putting them away.
