Man fined for continually putting rubbish out on wrong day

A Carmarthen man has been fined £200 for continually putting his rubbish out on the wrong day and putting non-recyclable waste in blue bags.

Antony Ricketts , age 20, of Barnsfield Terrace was also ordered to pay costs of £186.31 and a victim surcharge of £20 by Carmarthen Magistrates.

He failed to attend court and was convicted in absence to an offence under Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The court heard that since July 2012, the council’s environmental enforcement section had received numerous complaints of rubbish bags being put out on days when collections were not due.

Officers spoke to Ricketts in person and provided him with information, however reports continued to be made to the council’s enforcement team, who visited the address and found evidence to link black bags, and contaminated blue recycling bags, to him on several occasions.

A Fixed Penalty Notice was hand-delivered to Ricketts on April 2, 2014. A reminder was also sent on April 22, 2014; however it was never paid.

Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “The council is committed to clearing up Carmarthenshire and bags of rubbish that are left littering the streets for days on end will not be tolerated.

“If a resident continually ignores the council’s advice we have no choice but to issue a fine or prosecute them in court.

“I hope residents take notice of this case and act responsibly to reduce the amount of rubbish littering our streets.”

To find out what day your collection takes place and which colour bags, please visit http://ilocal.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/

To find out more about what you can place in your blue bags visit www.recycleforcarmarthenshire.com