Students Reminded of Waste Responsibility

Students and landlords across Rhondda Cynon Taf are being reminded of their responsibility to put out their recycling, food waste and black bags on the correct day.

Students are informed of their collection days by their HMO landlords when they move in to their student homes and have a responsibility to the local community to ensure that their waste is disposed of appropriately and on the correct collection day.

Three students have recently learnt a hard lesson after putting out their waste four days early and causing litter along streets in their community.

Earlier this year, the Council’s Streetcare Enforcement Officers received reports from residents about the amount litter that was strewn around the area. The officers then investigated the situation by attending the scene and found that a number of students had put their rubbish out for collection 4 days early. The bags had been torn and resulted in a string of rubbish blighting the local community.  

The students were then issued with a £75 fine, which they later refused to pay. Following this the fine was passed to Pontypridd Magistrate Court and the students were found guilty in their absence and received collective fines, costs and victim surcharges of £1395.

Even through the students were responsible for their waste, landlords have a big part to play in ensuring that their tenants act responsibly. Since 2004, the Council has required that every house of multiple occupation (HMO) in the County Borough, such as student digs or larger properties that have been divided into studios, is licensed. There are currently almost 600 licensed HMOs in the County Borough.

The successful scheme enables the Council to ensure HMO landlords are fit and responsible to undertake their role and that they uphold tenants’ rights, protect the community from anti-social/inconsiderate tenants and ensure the property meets certain standards.

The licensing scheme also expects landlords of HMOs to:

• Do all they can to prevent tenants causing crime, disorder or anti-social behaviour, including the playing of loud music.
• Ensure the property is in a good state of repair, inside and outside, and meets health and safety standards and fire regulations.
• That tenants are clear on how to dispose of their refuse and recycling and where and when to leave items out for collection.

Many of the requirements of the licensing scheme were introduced as a direct result of concerns raised by tenants, the community and other landlords about the standards of some properties being offered to let, the behaviour of tenants and issues such as run-down properties, refuse and recycling left on the pavement and more.

At the beginning of every semester the Council’s Streetcare Enforcement Team carry out various awareness sessions to inform new students about their waste responsibility. The students are also issued with information on their collection days in the HMO landlord’s packs. 

Nigel Wheeler, Director of Streetcare Services at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said: “The incorrect and illegal disposal of waste is a big problem throughout the area of Rhondda Cynon Taf and has a detrimental impact on the community, environment and human health.

“As well as creating unsightly blights on our streets, the clean up costs is a financial burden on the local authority and the taxpayer.

“The Streetcare Enforcement Team will continue to do all that it can to ensure that our Country Borough is clean and safe place to live, work and visit, but all residents have a part to play in this, including students.”

For more information and assistance on dealing with your waste legally or to find out your collection day visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk| or call 01443 494700.