Kids go treasure hunting Around 470 people dropped in to talk about recycling and 370 children took part in the recycling treasure hunt across the week. The events took place in five borough parks. see below Fake iPhone chargers London Fire Brigade’s report into fake iPhone chargers can be seen at www.london-fire.gov.uk/news see below News CHILDREN and their families had fun at half term with a series of treasure hunts with R3cycler the robot. Goody bags were handed out to children who helped find clues to solve an intergalactic puzzle. The treasure hunts took place in Weavers Fields, Mile End Park, St John’s Park, Victoria Park and King Edward Memorial Park. Crackdown to stop fly-tippers THE council is working to ensure businesses dispose of their waste and recycling through authorised waste collections. Waste generated by any business is classed as commercial waste. All businesses in Tower Hamlets have a legal duty to dispose of their waste properly and should arrange for their waste and recycling collections to be undertaken by registered commercial waste contractors. Commercial waste collection is not included in business rates. The council’s Commercial Waste Enforcement team deals with commercial waste and fly-tipping investigations. In 2013/14 there were 15,449 probes, a figure set to rise by up to 20 per cent by April 2015. During 2013-2014 there were 1,270 fixed penalty notices, three times the 2011-2012 figure. During 2013-2014 a total of 457 waste related statutory notices were issued to businesses. Cllr Shahed Ali, cabinet member for clean and green, said: “Businesses have a duty to ensure they have a commercial waste arrangement in place.” Advice for businesses and residents can be obtained from the Commercial Waste Enforcement team on 7364 5004 or email lbthwasteenforcement@ towerhamlets.gov.uk Fake chargers ‘a fire hazard’ BY SARAH MCLAUGHLIN RESIDENTS are being warned of the dangers of buying fake and unsafe phone chargers following prosecutions of traders in the borough. The council has prosecuted 12 market traders over the past year for dealing in unsafe and counterfeit mobile phone chargers following raids by trading standards and the police. All of the traders have been convicted of offences under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, involving the possession of unsafe electrical equipment. About £16,000 of fines and costs have been levied by T h a m e s M a g i s t r a t e s ’ Court against the traders. The prosecuted traders could not produce proper receipts to show where they had bought the unsafe chargers from; many had bought from “a man in a van”. This prevented trading standards following the supply chain back to the importers and wholesalers. London Fire Brigade has recently warned against the dangers of counterfeit Apple iPhone chargers, which could put people’s lives at risk. The stark warning follows a number of incidents involving counterfeit iPhone chargers, including one in February when firefighters were called to a house in Tottenham after an imitation charger caught fire. Fire investigation experts carried out a range of tests on several counterfeit chargers and say people who use these unsafe devices could be risking electrocution, burns or even a serious house fire. Tests carried out by trading standards on approximately 30 chargers confiscated in the borough revealed a number of safety faults including: inadequate insulation inadequate protection against electric shock as live parts could be accessed no earthing no fuses inadequate construction of the pins on the charger. London Fire Brigade’s Borough Commander for Tower Hamlets, Bruce Epsly, said: “These fake chargers are potentially extremely dangerous. “There have been some near misses in the last few months and, unless people stop buying them, it’s only a matter of time before we are called to a fatal fire. “For the sake of saving a few pounds is it worth putting the lives of your family at risk and taking the chance of potentially destroying your home?” To report the sale of unsafe, counterfeit or fake goods contact Tower Hamlets Consumer and Business Regulations Service on 7364 5008 or email tradingstandards@tower hamlets.gov.uk Lord Mayor’s show 8 NOVEMBER WÁJRYXNGOU WÁJRYXNGOU East London festivals... ...PLUS MUCH MORE! 14–23 NOVEMBER 27–30 NOVEMBER Guy Fawkes Night 5 NOVEMBER Diverse, dramatic, delightful. There are festivals to suit everyone in East London, all reachable by the DLR. Pick up a free guide to what’s happening from your station, or visit tfl.gov.uk/dlr for details. 10 – 16 NOVEMBER 2014 N E W S F R O M T O WER HAMLETS COUNCIL AND YOUR COMMUNITY 9
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