Elderly Resident Faces £600 Penalty and Court Threat Over Cardboard Box Disposal
An 83-year-old grandmother from Reading has been issued with a £600 fixed penalty notice and threatened with court action after allegedly fly-tipping a single cardboard box at a local recycling drop-off point. The case has sparked outrage from her family, who claim the enforcement action is causing severe health deterioration for the elderly woman.
Dispute Over Recycling Bin Incident
Carole Wright, a grandmother-of-four, states that in October she took rubbish to the Milestone Centre recycling drop-off in Reading, Berkshire, and placed all items, including a cardboard box from a new egg poaching pan, into a designated bin. However, environmental enforcement contractor Kingdom, acting on behalf of Reading Borough Council, later sent a letter alleging fly-tipping, accompanied by a photograph showing a worker holding the box with Carole's address visible.
The family believes the box may have been blown out of the bin by wind, but the council is pursuing the matter under Section 34ZA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Catherine, Carole's 50-year-old daughter, reports that her mother's health has declined significantly since receiving the correspondence, with Carole experiencing anxiety, loss of appetite, and fears of imprisonment.
Council and Contractor Response
A spokesperson for Reading Council emphasised that tackling litter and fly-tipping is a priority for residents, and the authority has a duty to investigate such incidents. They noted that after the box was found in October, further information was requested from Ms Wright, but no response was received within the 30-day period, leading to the fixed penalty notice.
The council and Kingdom have stated they remain open to dialogue and have requested evidence of extenuating circumstances from the family to potentially close the case. However, Catherine claims that when she contacted the council, she was directed to Kingdom and told to provide medical evidence to excuse her mother's actions, which she finds distressing and unhelpful.
Family's Plea for Resolution
Catherine describes the situation as shocking and says her mother, who is approaching her 84th birthday, cannot afford the £600 fine. The family initially thought the letters were a scam but confirmed their legitimacy after contacting the council. Despite reassurances that imprisonment is unlikely, Carole remains terrified of court proceedings.
The case highlights tensions between environmental enforcement and compassionate handling of incidents involving elderly residents. Both Reading Council and Kingdom have reiterated their willingness to resolve the matter without further action if evidence is provided, but the family feels caught in a bureaucratic process that is exacerbating a vulnerable individual's distress.
