A British gran has been slapped with a £600 fine and could face criminal proceedings after allegedly fly-tipping a solitary cardboard box at a local recycling facility.
Carole Wright, 83, from Reading, visited the recycling drop-off outside the Milestone Centre in October to dispose of household waste, believing she had correctly placed all items in the appropriate bins.
Within days of her visit, a letter arrived from Kingdom, an environmental enforcement contractor acting for Reading Council, warning of possible prosecution for fly-tipping.
The correspondence contained a photograph showing a worker displaying a box bearing Mrs Wright’s address, with images of overflowing bins visible in the background.
The container had previously held an egg-poaching pan which the grandmother-of-four maintains she properly disposed of in the recycling facilities provided.
Her daughter Catherine, 50, insists the elderly woman properly placed the box in the recycling bin and suspects strong winds may have displaced it from the overflowing containers.
The family initially dismissed the first letter as fraudulent until a second notice arrived a month later, prompting Catherine to contact Reading Council for clarification.
Council staff confirmed the authenticity of the demands but directed the family to Kingdom, the private contractor handling the case.
Carole Wright received evidence of the alleged fly-tipping from an environmental enforcement contractor
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Catherine said the council proved unhelpful, offering only a support telephone number when her brother visited in person to seek guidance.
She noted her mother is approaching her 84th birthday and has become somewhat forgetful, adding that Mrs Wright believed she had properly disposed of the item and thought nothing further of it.
Catherine said: “It keeps going round and round in circles.”
The family contends they have attempted to respond despite claims from authorities that no reply was received.
Catherine expressed deep concern about the toll the ordeal has taken on her mother’s wellbeing.
Catherine said: “My mum keeps saying she doesn’t want to go on any more. She’s just staring at walls, crying. She’s not eating.
“Her health has really declined since this all happened. I’m just so worried about her, she’s such a lovely person – she’s the best mum you could ever have.”
Mrs Wright, who relocated to Reading 57 years ago, has no previous offences or convictions, according to her daughter.
The pensioner has reportedly become consumed with worry about imprisonment, repeatedly expressing fears about being sent to jail despite reassurances from her family.
The household lacks the financial means to settle the £600 demand, leading Catherine to establish a GoFundMe campaign to raise the required sum.
Catherine said: “She can’t afford the money. She keeps saying ‘they’re going to put me in prison’.”
Reading Council defended its pursuit of the case, stating that local residents have identified addressing litter and fly-tipping as a priority concern requiring investigation of all reported incidents.
A council spokesman said authorities sought additional information from Mrs Wright following the discovery of the waste in October but received no communication within a 30-day deadline, prompting the issuance of a fixed penalty notice.
The family initially dismissed the first letter as fraudulent until a second notice arrived a month later
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The authority noted that following assertions of extenuating circumstances, Kingdom has requested supporting evidence that would enable them to withdraw the case, though none has materialised.
Reading Council said: “We remain fully open to dialogue with Ms Wright and welcome her assistance to the investigation which we hope will allow them to close the case with no further action required.”
In a statement, Kingdom said: “Kingdom LAS are working closely with Reading Borough Council to help keep the streets clean and clear of rubbish.
“Our officers work through education and enforcement to assist residents in understanding their responsibilities and we are always open to dialogue with members of the public.
“In October last year, our officers working on behalf of Reading Borough Council identified a fly-tipped box of waste, which led to officers requesting further information from Ms Wright, to which no response was received within the 30 day period.
“Following that, under Section 34ZA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, a Fixed Penalty Notice was issued.
“Further to the claim from the family that there are extenuating circumstances for non-payment of the fine, we requested evidence to allow us to close the case.
“Nothing has yet been received.
“We remain fully open to dialogue with Ms Wright and hope we will be able to come to a resolution in this case.”