PEOPLE in Monmouthshire may be facing £100 fines for putting rubbish bins out on the wrong day.

A report which is due to go before Monmouthshire County Council's cabinet recommends fines being handed out for not just offences of fly-tipping, dog fouling and littering but also putting bins out on the wrong day or leaving rubbish next to designated bins.

The report states that fines will only be issued in "extreme and repeated cases", including when residents regularly leave bulky items in public places, leave their bags out on the wrong weeks or don't keep their waste properly contained.

Those who commit the offences for the first time would not be automatically fined, but given a warning and extra information on how to comply with the new regulations.

The new enforcement powers would also hit businesses who fail to properly dispose of rubbish and officers will be able to serve notices as well as hand out fines and in extreme cases, even prosecute offenders.

When discussing the need for enforcement officers, the council stated the idea had come after residents across Monmouthshire “had a growing concern” that some sections of the community have not been engaging in recycling or complying with waste collection policies.

The council believe that further enforcement will ensure the best efforts of residents and businesses.

Carl Touhig, Monmouthshire recycling strategy and business manager, said: “This move will provide support for the council’s environmental health officers who already hold these powers and build extra capacity to deal with litter and dog fouling - a major concern for residents.

“However, enforcement is our last resort and our initial response is to educate and support those who cause related problems despite our best efforts.”

Monmouthshire is one of the top counties in South Wales for regularly hitting its recycling targets, having already achieved the Welsh recycling target for 2025, nine years ahead of schedule.

The county is consistently in the top three authorities for recycling rates in Wales, which the council say is due to the “cooperation of its residents”.

Councillor Bryan Jones, cabinet member with responsibility for recycling thanked Monmouthshire residents for their cooperation and said that although more does need to be done it’s just a minority that will be targeted by enforcement officers.

He said: “The important thing is that we acknowledge that residents in Monmouthshire have made a large contribution and helped us hit our recycling targets.

“It practically a case of getting a few people back in line who don’t want to play along. I just feel like we have to take this up upon ourselves to solve.”