Its popularity was highlighted this week in a YouGov survey, which showed that one in eight British adults had admitted taking something left outside a home that was being given away. Councils have warned people who give away their possessions on the streetBut councils stressed the practice is illegal and warned perpetrators could face fines and even jail terms if they repeatedly offend.Critics said furniture left outside homes had become obstacles for people in wheelchairs and parents walking with pushchairs, while some expressed fears it encouraged further littering.Fines of up to £400 could be served to culprits, Richard McIlwain, the chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, warned. Household objects are left on the street for bystanders to take free of charge“The majority of items left on the streets end up in a landfill. “If a household has items no longer needed, there are responsible ways of recycling, like taking clothes, shoes, tableware, crockery, books, CDs, toys etc to charity shops. Councils say the practice is just as troublesome as fly-tipping"It is each individual residents responsibility to maintain their own area clean and orderly. Don’t say “Someone else will take care of it”. You are that ‘someone else’."In London, the cost to councils of clearing up fly-tipping was found to be £18m a year, according to a recent report commissioned by the London Environment Directors Network and Keep Britain Tidy.Keith Townsend, Ealing Council's executive director for environment, said: “We know that residents often want to identify ways for recycling and reusing items they may no longer want, and the intentions behind ‘free to take’ are often very positive. “We really need residents to take responsibility for getting rid of their unwanted items properly, and our preference would be for them to use the council’s bulky waste service, take items to recycling centres or use services such as Freecycle that encourage items to be reused. One in eight British adults have admitted taking something left outside a home that was being given away“The legal position is that items left on the public highway are considered fly tip and residents leaving these items could be liable for a fine.”
Vanessa Smith ● 2486d