Derby City Council approves £70 fines for bins left out too early or too long
Derby City Council has passed new powers to fine residents £70 if they put bins out too early or leave them out too long, under a three-year public space protection order.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Derby City Council has approved new powers to fine residents £70 if they put their bins out too early or leave them out too long. The decision was taken at a council meeting this afternoon under a public space protection order. The measures will be in place for three years.
Under the rules, residents can put their bins out after 5pm on the day before collection. They must bring them back inside by 12 noon the following day. Failure to comply could lead to a £70 fixed penalty. Wednesday is bin day for much of Derby.
The council says bins left on pavements for long periods can obstruct pedestrians, wheelchair users and people with pushchairs. It also says they make streets look untidy, cause unpleasant smells and attract pests and vermin.
The policy follows a six-month pilot on nine streets in the city. During that pilot, the council issued 299 warnings, 129 notices of intent and 24 fixed penalties of around £70. The enforcement process starts with a written warning and time to move the bin. If a resident does not comply, the council can issue a notice of intent to fine. The resident then has 28 days to make representations. Only after the council considers those representations can it issue the final fixed penalty.
Opinion in the pilot area is divided. One resident, Leonie, said the fines were unfair because her home has no access to the back garden, so garden waste has to be carried through the house to the front. Another resident said the bins were dangerous for his wife, who uses a mobility scooter, and that he takes his own bin in regularly but many people do not.
At the meeting, a speaker said: 'For years and years and years, we've had a problem and hopefully we now have a solution.' Earlier coverage said the council was also due to discuss similar fines for dog fouling and begging.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Reported by all 2 channels | ||
| Derby City Council told residents that putting bins out too early or leaving them out too long could lead to a £70 fine. | ||
| Only on one channel | ||
| The council tested the bin measures in a six-month pilot on nine streets. | Not reported by Channel 5 | |
| The pilot resulted in 299 warnings, 129 notices of intent and 24 fixed penalties of around £70. | Not reported by Channel 5 | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV treated the item as a Midlands news story and focused on the pilot data and the council's stated reasons for the policy. It was the only channel to note that the council was also discussing similar fines for dog fouling and begging. Its report framed the policy as still being considered, because it aired before the later vote.
- “people in the city of Derby have been told they could be fined if they put their bins out too early or leave them out too long the costs £70”
- “during that period 299 warnings were issued 129 notices of intent were issued and 24 fixed penalties of around £70 were also issued too”
- “we want Derby streets and neighbourhoods to be clean safe and accessible for everyone”
5 News introduced the item as a rubbish story but then gave a detailed account of the council vote and the rules. It focused on practical enforcement steps and residents' mixed views in the pilot area. It was alone in confirming that the powers had passed, that they would last three years, and that the rules applied from today.
- “they're being told they could face a fine if they put their bins out early or leave them out late”
- “From today you can put your bin out after 5pm the day before collection and if you don't take it back in by 12 noon the next day, you could face a £70 fine.”
- “The new powers were passed at a council meeting this afternoon, under a public space protection order.”
Broadcast Timeline
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