A DECISION to fine people who do not recycle has been challenged.

Councillor Martin Hunt, responsible for waste at Colchester Council, agreed to use powers to educate and ultimately penalise non-recyclers earlier this month.

But Conservative councillors have put the brakes on the plan and challenged his decision. They say Mr Hunt has not considered incentives rather than punishments and not outlined how widespread the problem of non-recycling is across Colchester.

The opposition group has referred the matter to the strategic overview and scrutiny panel to look at it further. The panel will meet on Monday January 28 to decide whether the issue should be re-examined.