Another fines mess, claims Archway businessman Hak Huseyin

Published: 8 October, 2010
by PETER GRUNER

ARCHWAY businessmen Hak Huseyin not only paid the Town Hall £1,500 annually to remove paper and cardboard waste – he had a certificate to prove it.

But that did not stop Islington Council fining Mr Huseyin, chairman of Archway Town Centre Traders’ Association, a total of £300 for not having the waste recycling certificate – even though he says it was always on display in his shop.

Mr Huseyin is furious with the Town Hall, which issued the fine, for failing to communicate with its waste contractors Enterprise. He maintains that had it done so it would have discovered he has the documentation in a frame on a wall in the shop.  

It emerged this week that there are at least six businesses which have been fined for non-possession of waste licences, which they must provide under law. “I can’t speak for the other businesses, but in my case they have really got it wrong,” Mr Huseyin said. “This is taking money under false pretences.”

His  shop, Absolute Print, in Junction Road, recently won a prestigious Service Excellence Award from Fujifilm.

He added: “The council’s Street Environment informed me of the fine, claiming I had not provided evidence of a certificate. 

“But Enterprise, which comes to the shop every week to remove my waste, must know I have the certificate on the wall.  

“Because of this mistake I’ve been fined £180, which has now risen to £300 because of all the delays. My message to Islington is that before you start issuing fines check your facts.” 

Mr Huseyin, who employs five people, pays about £1,500 a year to the council to recycle his waste paper. He is appealing against the fine.

Town Hall Labour environment chief Councillor Paul Smith said: “We’re on the side of residents and will listen to Mr Huseyin to make sure this fixed penalty was issued correctly and whether there is a case for appeal.

“I’ve been told by staff that in this case a fixed penalty notice was issued in connection with business waste disposal. It’s since been paid, and an appeal turned down.

“To stop taxpayers ending up with the bill, we have to make sure businesses in Islington are getting rid of their waste properly. But we want to work with businesses and not penalise them.”

Another trader, Syed Shah, who runs Archway Estates, in Junction Road, was fined £80. He claims he was told by an official from the council that he did not need a recycling certificate. “I have very little paper to recycle and what I have is always shredded,” he added. 

Av Abtahir, who runs a halal butchers and grocers next door, was fined £180. “I had no idea you had to employ a council-recognised firm to take away paper and cardboard,” he said. “I’ve always taken the waste myself to the council recycler in Holloway. This is just more expense at a time when businesses are struggling to survive.”