Exeter contamination case adjourned for two weeks

Donna Challice appeared in court yesterday facing six charges of contaminating her recycling bin – and that of around 300 other households when the waste is collected.

” Someone had to bring this case, there is no point saying to people there is your recycling bin if they can contaminate all the time “
– Mike Trimm, Exeter city council
The case was adjourned yesterday by Cullompton magistrates and Ms Challice was released on bail. A full hearing has been scheduled for June 5, also at Cullompton.

Ms Challice is up on six counts of placing food waste into her recycling bin, all of which she has pleaded not guilty to.

According to the council the offences occurred on November 2 and 16 2005, December 14 2005 and February 8 and 22 2006.

The charges have been brought under section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act, which allows councils to fine when residents fail to use recycling services properly. Ms Challice faces a maximum fine of 1,000 if found guilty.

Exeter now has to prove that the waste placed in the bins is her own, Mike Trimm, head of cleansing at Exeter, told letsrecycle.com that the council had plenty of evidence against Ms Challice, but could not disclose at this point how they would be approaching the full hearing.

But he said: “Someone had to bring this case, there is no point saying to people there is your recycling bin if they can contaminate all the time. We don't insist people recycle, but some people are still using their green bin for residual waste.”

And whether or not Exeter city council is successful in its prosecution, the case has certainly caught the nation's attention. Mr Trimm said that there was a “huge media presence” waiting for Ms Challice to arrive and leave.