A WOKINGHAM resident has picked up so many discarded mini bottles of wine from a Matthewsgreen roundabout that they have been inspired to photograph the huge collection.
The resident has been collecting the rubbish as part of their personal campaign to keep Wokingham tidy, and now has amassed more than 100 of the 127ml wine bottles which seem to have been discarded by the same person.
Some were thrown into the roundabout between Cantley Park and St Cecilia’s Church of England Primary School, with others dumped on the grass verges beside the four roads served by the roundabout.
“Evidently someone seems to think it’s okay to throw their bottles away,” said the resident.
“I imagine these must be thrown out of a moving car by someone who lives locally, and who can’t be bothered to use the bottle banks in the area.”
Bottle banks are located conveniently nearby, beside Wokingham Theatre.
“I also pick up empty drink cans in the Emmbrook area,” added the resident.
“Quite often several cans of the same brand are found in one location, indicating that the perpetrator considers the verges of Emmbrook to be their own rubbish bin.”
The bottles have now all been taken to a bottle bank for recycling.
“I will continue to collect them,” the resident added.
“I don’t suppose the individual will stop throwing bottles into the local undergrowth.”
But if they don’t, they risk being fined.
A spokesperson from Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) confirmed that littering from a vehicle is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
To deter offenders local authorities can fine the registered keeper of the vehicle directly via a civil penalty, regardless of who threw the item (the driver or a passenger).
The bottles are likely to have been bought nearby, so it shouldn’t be difficult to identify the culprit.
Midcounties Co-op has been contacted for comment.
Vehicle dash cams may also have captured footage of the person littering.
Anyone seeing someone throwing items from their vehicle can report it online to Wokingham Borough Council.
They should give a description of what was thrown, and include any photographic or video evidence they may have of the offence.
A council spokesperson said: “We would require a clear view of the vehicle registration number (number plate), and the exact moment and place the litter was discarded (the date, time, and specific location of the incident).
“We would also need details about the offender (whether it was the driver or a passenger).”
WBC is currently updating its systems, so littering reports should be made via the council’s online flytipping form.
People should add in the comments/description section whether dash cam footage is available.
An ASB officer will then contact the person reporting to enable them to submit the dash cam footage directly via email.
For information, and to report littering, visit: wokingham.gov.uk (search for flytipping)
