Families heading off on summer holidays are being urged to double‑check their bin days – or risk returning home to an £80 fine.
Waste experts at Wheeldon Brothers say householders could be penalised if their wheelie bins are left out on the pavement for too long while they are away.
Many local authorities enforce rules under Section 46A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which allows them to issue fixed‑penalty notices if bins are left obstructing public walkways or out for days after collection.
“It’s a really easy mistake to make,” a Wheeldon Brothers spokesperson said. “But if your bin is left out for days while you’re away, it can attract pests, block footpaths, and even become a nuisance for neighbours. In many areas, that’s enough to land you with a fixed penalty under local Environmental Protection laws.”
The warning comes after several cases where residents were hit with fines for putting their rubbish out too early or leaving it uncollected while away.
One such incident involved Leon Wright, 40, from East Twickenham, who said he received a penalty from Richmond Council after putting his bin bags out just four and a half hours before the permitted time so he could catch his honeymoon flight.
“I came back from my honeymoon with a fixed penalty notice from Richmond Council,” Mr Wright said. “It said that we had to pay it within 10 days, but we couldn’t because we weren’t even there. This is just a blatant cash grab to me. I am not paying it.”
Richmond Council defended its approach, saying: “Richmond Council is committed to keeping the borough’s streets clean, safe and accessible for everyone. To help achieve this, we encourage residents to follow the guidance on when to put waste out for collection. Waste should only be placed out between 8pm the night before and 6am on the day of collection.”
Beyond the risk of fines, leaving bins out in summer heat can create hygiene headaches. “Warm weather speeds up decomposition, and rubbish left baking in a bin can become a magnet for rodents and insects,” Wheeldon Brothers warned.
“If the lid’s not shut properly, or the bin gets blown over, you could return from holiday to a mess on your driveway and some very unhappy neighbours.”
To avoid trouble, experts recommend asking a neighbour to bring in your bin after collection, checking for changes to collection schedules – especially around bank holidays – and making sure bins are securely closed and not blocking pathways.