Waste fines for city businesses

Shoe store Aldo, based on Commercial Street, was fined 6,000 and ordered to pay 1,452 costs at Leeds Magistrates' Court, after admitting failing to contain its waste.

Waste from the store was found to be not stored properly on three separate occasions last November.

On the third visit council officials found that, despite repeated warnings, waste was laying on the ground when the store's bin was only a quarter full.

On the same day Choprahya, a Thai restaurant on Swinegate, was fined 2,500 and ordered to pay costs of 1,459.

Council enforcement officers, while patrolling the city centre in November, found 20 overflowing bags full of food waste, bottles and cardboard at the back of the restaurant.

After the court hearings, Coun Tom Murray, the council's executive board member for environmental services, said: "All businesses have a duty to ensure their waste is correctly stored and disposed of, and that bins are not allowed to overflow or remain uncollected for any length of time.

"We are rightly proud of our city and will take action against those who do not seem to share our pride."