Bin stunt leads to costly court date
A Gorleston resident who emptied his recycling bin in the road has been left with a £434 bill for the stunt.
Hayden Brown of Burgh Road, Gorleston, tipped his green wheelie bin over in the street when GYBS staff refused to collect it after spotting electrical equipment and stones mixed in with the recycling.
GYBS collect bins on behalf of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, and staff check the bins for contamination which can prevent whole batches of recycling from being processed.
The stunt, on 5 August last year, saw rubbish strewn across the street and led to a prosecution by the council for fly tipping.
Brown pleaded guilty to an offence under the Environmental Protection Act at Great Yarmouth Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 12 July 2022.
He was fined £350, reduced to £250 in recognition of his guilty plea, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £34 and £150 costs.
Council environment committee chair Paul Well said: "Most people are very careful about separating their recycling and other waste, which is crucial to avoiding the contamination that can prevent whole batches of collection being recycled. Our colleagues in GYBS monitor bins carefully and this successful prosecution shows that we will support them in doing their jobs.
"If anyone needs guidance on how to recycle, there is lots of advice on the norfolkrecycles.com website on what can and cannot be recycled."
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