RESIDENTS have been given warning letters by Flintshire Council for their black bin lid being open an "inch or two". 

Helen Brown, county councillor for Hawarden's Aston ward, said numerous residents had contacted her after being given the letters or notices stuck on their black bins last week. 

Flintshire Council's policy is that if black bins are overflowing, it will issue notification letters or warning letters. Repeat offenders face being issued a fixed penalty notice. 

The Leader:

However, Cllr Brown said some residents were given warning letters and stickers despite their black bin not overflowing - and that the lids were only barely left open.

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She said: "It's very frustrating to see so many residents having warning letters for having there bin lid slightly raised by an inch or two. In my opinion it's absolutely ridiculous to be given a warning if your bin lid is open by an inch or two.

"Surely time would be best spent concentrating on areas which are blighted by extra waste. Each day we see photos of overflowing bins in other areas of Flintshire."

The Leader: Notification stickers were placed on some binsNotification stickers were placed on some bins (Image: Cllr Helen Brown)

A Flintshire Council spokesperson said: “As part of our Resource and Waste Strategy we are committed to minimising the amount of waste we collect so that we can achieve the 70 per cent recycling target set by Welsh Government. Where residents present excess waste at the side of the bin or within the bin preventing the lid from fully closing, enforcement action may be taken.

“In the first instance, this is in the form of an informal notification sticker, advisory letter and informative leaflet guiding our residents on how to present their waste for collection.

"If residents do require additional information and support around how to minimise their waste, our team of Recycling, Compliance & Data Officers are here to offer advice.”