Residents ticked off for sweeping up leaves
Community-minded residents have been told off by binmen for sweeping up autumn leaves outside their homes.
Families in Blakenall, West Midlands, had been dutifully sweeping up fallen leaves and putting them into their garden recycling bins.
But binmen have warned them that depositing leaves from the street in the brown containers is against council rules, reports the Daily Mail.
The rules state that leaves from the highway should not be put into brown bins because of the risk of "contamination".
Persistent offenders who break waste collection rules, including placing the 'wrong' materials in bins, could face a fine of up to £1,000.
One elderly woman who fell foul of the policy, who does not want to be named, complained to Walsall Councillor Pete Smith, who agreed it was "crazy".
"It's still good to know some residents still take the trouble to keep the public footpath outside their own home clean. They should be encouraged, not discouraged," he said.
Council guidelines state that only grass cuttings, tree and shrub prunings, old plants and flowers, hedge clippings, weeds and leaves from residents' own gardens can be put into brown bins.
But council leader Mike Bird has called for a common sense approach.
He said: "We are trying to encourage more pride in the community and this is the perfect example of a lady doing that and she should be praised."
Community-minded residents have been told off by binmen for sweeping up autumn leaves outside their homes.
Families in Blakenall, West Midlands, had been dutifully sweeping up fallen leaves and putting them into their garden recycling bins.
But binmen have warned them that depositing leaves from the street in the brown containers is against council rules, reports the Daily Mail.
The rules state that leaves from the highway should not be put into brown bins because of the risk of "contamination".
Persistent offenders who break waste collection rules, including placing the 'wrong' materials in bins, could face a fine of up to £1,000.
One elderly woman who fell foul of the policy, who does not want to be named, complained to Walsall Councillor Pete Smith, who agreed it was "crazy".
"It's still good to know some residents still take the trouble to keep the public footpath outside their own home clean. They should be encouraged, not discouraged," he said.
Council guidelines state that only grass cuttings, tree and shrub prunings, old plants and flowers, hedge clippings, weeds and leaves from residents' own gardens can be put into brown bins.
But council leader Mike Bird has called for a common sense approach.
He said: "We are trying to encourage more pride in the community and this is the perfect example of a lady doing that and she should be praised."