A young mother in Manchester put her recycling bins out a day early and received a large fine as a result. Zoe Watmough was taken in front of magistrates for her mistake and given a legal bill totally £265.
The 22-year-old’s green recycling bin and grey waste bin were spotted by council officers on the curb 24 hours before the collectors were scheduled to pick them up.
According to the regulations in Bolton Council, bins are only to be put on the streets the morning of the collection day.
Magistrates in the local court fined the young mother £125, and ordered that she pay £125 in court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
The measures are designed to reduce arson attacks by youths in the neighbourhood, according the court. The court estimates that the total cost of attending a bin fire is £1,900. Annually, the fire service estimates that £3 million is spent responding to bin fires in the UK.
Zoe said: “I am flabbergasted. There are people committing all sorts of crimes and getting away with it. Yet I have left my bin out and have been fined the best part of £300.
“Everybody in this area puts their bins out the day before collection. I don’t see what the problem is and can’t afford to pay the fine.”
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