Residents told off for sweeping up leaves

With the first autumn leaves falling onto their street, families have dutifully been sweeping them up and putting them into their garden recycling bins.

But their community-spirited actions have been met with a stark warning from binmen, who told them depositing leaves in the brown containers is against council rules.

At least one pensioner in Guild Avenue, Blakenall, has been ticked off by refuse collectors for going against Walsall Council's policy, which has been branded "ridiculous".

The rules outlined in Street Pride documents indeed state leaves off the highway should not be put into brown bins because of "contamination". Persistent offenders who break waste collection rules, including placing the 'wrong' materials in bins, could potentially face a fine of up to £1,000.

Council rules say all that can be put into brown bins are grass cuttings, tree and shrub prunings, old plants and flowers, hedge clippings, weeds and leaves from residents' own gardens.

The elderly woman who fell foul of the policy, who does not want to be named, told councillor Pete Smith, who said 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," he said.

"They should be encouraged, not discouraged."

Today council leader Mike Bird called for a common sense approach and said:"Anyone who has made comments to people about sweeping up leaves is taking the rules to the extreme.

"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."

Retired lorry driver, Bill Pittam, aged 79, from Harden Road, Blakenall, said: "I've always swept up leaves from outside my home and put them in my bin and have been doing for the last 30 years or so."

Walsall Council, named the best authority in the country for its recycling targets, earlier this month approved a new rubbish collection policy, meaning it can now take enforcement action over those putting the wrong waste in the wrong bins.

Persistent offenders could be taken to court and fined up to £1,000.