A WOMAN was ordered to pay over �700 on Monday after dumping two bags of rubbish near a recycling bank in Letchworth GC last year.

Ameeta Seelumbur, of Jackmans Place, Letchworth GC, pleaded guilty to one charge of fly-tipping at a plastic bottle bank in Baldock Road on May 25, 2010, when she appeared at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court.

Seelumbur was fined �350 plus �375 costs and a �15 victims surcharge, following the prosecution brought by North Herts District Council (NHDC).

She apologised to the court, saying she did not know why she had left the bags by the recycling bins and that she did not remember doing so.

Cllr Bernard Lovewell, NHDC portfolio holder for Environmental Health, said: “We want to encourage residents to make use of our recycling bank facilities and the vast majority of people do use them correctly.

“Unfortunately, a minority of people on occasion leave their recyclables next to the bins, or use the facilities as a place to dump other rubbish. As well as creating an unsightly mess, this also costs the taxpayer to clean it up.

“If residents find the recycling banks are full or over-flowing when they visit, they should call the number provided on the bank so that we can get them emptied as quickly as possible.

“The council will take action against those who do not use the recycling centres as their intended purpose and I am delighted that the courts have supported the council in its efforts to provide first class recycling facilities.”