BARROW Borough Council bosses have pledged to get tough and crackdown on people leaving their wheelie bins out for days on end by fining repeat offenders.

The authority wants to cut the problem of homeowners not bringing their bins and recycling boxes in after collection amid complaints and mounting rubbish in many streets and alleys.

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Homeowners can put their bins out from 6pm the day before they are due for collection and then should bring them back before midnight following collection.

However, many parts of Barrow are blighted by bins being kept out on the streets and in backstreets throughout the week, attracting rodents and seagulls.


The authority's street care team will put stickers on left out bins to remind homeowners of the law and, if the problem persists, will issue them with a £80 fine.

Nick Christofides, a street care officer at the council, said he hoped the campaign would remind homeowners of their responsibility and encourage them to change their behaviour.

He said: "The aim of the legislation is to reduce anti-social behaviour and to improve the local environment for everybody.

"The Bring In Your Bin campaign will be resuming with the possibility of £80 fines being issued to people that do not comply.

"We will circulate letters with a leaflet telling them when to bring in your bin and when to put your bin out.

"If they don't comply then it could result in a £80 fine."

Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 gives Barrow Borough Council and authorities across the country the power to instruct households how to store, dispose of and present their waste for collection, with fixed penalty notices a possible punishment for those who fail to abide by the rules.

The legislation states if the fixed penalty notice is not paid then legal action may be brought about through the magistrates courts. In court the maximum penalty is a £1,000 fine with court costs.

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Mr Christofides said the scheme was for the whole borough but acknowledged there was a particular problem of bins being left out in areas such as Central and Hindpool.

Left out bins can also be used for malicious purposes, with Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service called out to many deliberate rubbish fires in parts of Barrow.

In addition, it is also hoped the drive will reduce the council's bill on replacement bins as more households will be storing their wheelie bins in secure places.