Residents will be fined if they put their rubbish out too early

Council officials in Darlington are snooping through rubbish to identify residents who put their bins out more than 24 hours before collection.

Anyone who places refuse bags in the street earlier than that is liable to a penalty.

The authority brought in the 24 hour deadline in an attempt to clean up the town.

But some people claim they were not aware of the new regulations.

Resident Deborah Carpenter said when she was notified of the fine, she was shocked to learn that enforcement officers had rifled through her bins.

Invasion of privacy

"In the letter they stated they had been through the rubbish to find out that it was mine, which I was really unhappy with.

"I'm sure it must be an invasion of privacy.

"I explained to them that I was most unhappy about the �50 fine, that my rubbish was always tied up, and that I didn't realise [about the regulation].

"If I had, I obviously would not have put it out there... I don't want to pay �50."

Education campaign

But Sean Finlay, service operations manager, said everyone in the town was warned well in advance about the new regulations.

"We have done a massive education campaign over the last few months.

"We have spoken to local papers, leaflet drops, there have been signs up in the town centre. We have done what we can to inform local residents.

"It is quite high on their agenda that Darlington is kept clean and looks like a nice place to live.

"If you leave rubbish out it attracts vermin and that just increases the problem in the long term."