OPPOSITION councillors in Blaenau Gwent are set to challenge plans which would see householders fined £100 for failing to recycle or use their wheelie bins correctly.

Labour councillors say they are “actively seeking” to challenge the decision, and plan to lodge a call in request in an effort to have the move reconsidered.

The Argus reported yesterday that residents have also voiced their opinions on the scheme, which they described as “threatening” and the product of “bully boy tactics”.

The system, which is costing the council £59,000 to get off the ground, is due to be introduced this summer to tackle households who throw away excess black bag waste or do not participate in food recycling.

Householders who put rubbish on top of or next to their wheelie bin on multiple occasions will be issued with green, amber and red warning stickers, and excess rubbish will not be taken away on the second and third occasions.

If they ignore the regulations for a fourth time, they will be issued with a £100 fixed penalty notice.

Residents who do not use their food recycling bins will be sent first, second and final warning letters. Their black bin bags will be inspected to see if they are using them for food waste, and if they still fail to recycle they could also be hit with a £100 fine. But leader of Blaenau Gwent’s Labour group Cllr Hedley McCarthy said the scheme was like using “a big stick against residents”, and that the proposals should have gone before full council for debate Cllr McCarthy also criticised the measures for being confusing, and said people should be encouraged and rewarded for recycling rather than punished.

He said the Labour group plan to lodge a call in request by the end of the week.

He added: “The draconian and punitive measure is already frightening elderly people in to believing they are not doing enough. I would urge the executive to think again and drop the idea of waste watching and press ganging our people.”