Residents told: recycle or face fine of £1,000

Residents across an entire London borough face £1,000 penalties if they fail to recycle their rubbish.

Last year's pilot project in four wards saw recycling increase by almost 20 per cent without a single fine issued.

Now the Tory council is widening the scheme from 21,000 properties to all 113,000 houses in the borough. Flats are not included as households with shared bins are exempt from recycling laws.

The aim is to recycle 30 per cent of Barnet's domestic waste in 2005/6, making it the capital's best-performing authority.

Residents must place glass, jars, tins and paper in a doorstep box or face warnings and fines. The move was approved last night by Barnet's ruling cabinet. The council will receive a £630,000 government grant if it meets its targets.