Council crews search bins and can hand out fines to rule-breakers

RECYCLING crews will rummage through people's bins in a scheme to boost recycling rates in one county area.

- 

Caerphilly county council's recycling advisory teams could dish out £70 fines to repeat offenders who throw recyclable materials into their general waste bins.

Fines will only be used as a last resort if previous attempts to engage and educate repeat offenders are unsuccessful.

Councillor Chris Morgan, cabinet member for waste, told colleagues that the county's residents are producing 410kg of residual waste each year compared to a national average of 360kg.

Research in 2023 found that 59% of general waste bins' contents was actually recyclable.