Cardboard, black bin liners, gift bags, plastic and more were left strewn across the floor at the village’s Civic Centre in Prospect Place.
Despite its proximity to designated recycling bins, for glass, paper and card, aluminium and steel cans, textiles and plastic bottles, leaving the refuse on the ground is considered fly-tipping and could result in hefty fines for those responsible.
Cllr Alex Bardett warned of the potential repercussions on December 28, noting Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (WHBC) has an enforcement company that will “check addresses on packaging and issue fines in excess of £500”.
He added: “We’d hate to see people incur fines at this time of year.”
On December 1, WHBC launched a 12-month waste enforcement partnership with Kingdom Local Authority Services.
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Kingdom will be working alongside FCC Environment, the council’s waste contractor, to target target fly tipping and littering across the borough.
According to the council, as well as fines, perpetrators could also face prosecution for failing to manage waste correctly.
Since issuing the warning, Cllr Bardett, borough councillor for Welwyn West and chair of the village’s parish council, said “a number of residents” removed rubbish once they became aware of the potential fines.
This was echoed by WHBC, who told us the site had been cleared by New Year’s Eve.
The council also pointed towards advice issued around festive waste management, where executive member for environment Cllr Sandreni Bonfante said: “As we all know, the excess waste generated at Christmas can have a significant impact on the environment.”
“It’s vital that we all do our part by recycling and disposing of waste responsibly.
“I encourage residents to check their revised bin collection dates and make use of the additional cardboard collections and recycle excess waste at Tewin Road Recycling Centre.”