Overview

• Under Section 46A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, councils can issue fixed penalty notices of up to £80 for misuse of household waste containers.
• Reported offences include blocking pavements or access routes, forcing pedestrians into the road, allowing spillages that attract vermin, and leaving bins out for extended periods.
• London boroughs may apply higher charges of up to £300 for certain bin-related breaches, according to recent local reporting.
• Enforcement typically escalates from a written warning to a notice of intent, followed by a final notice detailing the penalty.
• Government guidance says minor mistakes, such as accidental contamination or leaving a bin out a little early, are unlikely to be fined, though an OddsMonkey spokesperson warns public awareness is low.