Barnet fines threat sees all residents complying

Evidence was being gathered against the sole resident from Totteridge in the trial area, in order to prosecute them for failing to join the countries first compulsory recycling scheme.

But after the resident was notified last month that evidence was being gathered they have requested a black recycling box and begun recycling.

The householder, along with several other residents, was sent letters warning them that they faced a possible 1,000 fine for failing to recycle. This was followed by a personal visit from council officers.

””I have always said that I see legal action as a last resort “
Cllr Matthew Offord
As each stage of the scheme passed by, the council announce than more residents were gradually recycling their waste, until the Totteridge resident stood alone in their defiance against the scheme.

Barnet has said that it will now be monitoring the resident's continued participation in the scheme, along with other households across the borough.

The scheme has helped increase participation in the black box recycling scheme from 50% to 80%, said a spokesman for Barnet.

The council's cabinet member for environment, Councillor Matthew Offord, said: “I have always said that I see legal action as a last resort and we would prefer to see people engaging in the popular and simple recycling scheme we have implemented.

Greener

“Legal action will always be considered so we can support the thousands of Barnet residents who are already playing their part in order to achieve our recycling target which will help make Barnet a cleaner, greener borough,” he added.

Barnet became the first local authority in the UK to introduce a compulsory recycling scheme in early 2004. The compulsory scheme was originally run across 25,000 households, but it expanded borough-wide in March of this year.

The resident from Totteridge was part of the original 25,000 households on the pilot-scheme, it has taken them 14 months to start recycling. The council may now have to go through the same process again with the rest of the borough's residents.