A young single mother from West London has been handed a staggering £1,000 fine by her local council for an incident she describes as leaving a single cardboard envelope next to overfilled communal bins.
A Shocking Fine for a Cardboard Envelope
Loretta Alvarez, a 26-year-old mental health nurse from Feltham, received the penalty for what Hounslow Council categorised as 'fly-tipping'. The situation began when the communal bins shared by her and approximately 25 other households were completely full. Loretta explained that she placed the small cardboard envelope on top of some other cardboard that had been stacked beside the bins, a common sight in her neighbourhood.
Weeks later, she was threatened with legal action if she did not pay the £1,000 fine in full by Wednesday, November 5th. Loretta, who works tirelessly as a mental health nurse while raising her child, stated she simply does not have the money. "I pay all my rent, council tax and bills, I can't afford to pay that. I would never intentionally do that," she said.
The Personal and Professional Toll
The stress of the fine has been immense for the single mum. "I've been trying to juggle this alongside work, being a mum, it's been hard," Loretta shared. She expressed deep concern that a criminal charge from legal proceedings could affect her future employment and crucial DBS checks required for her nursing career.
She pointed out the apparent injustice of the penalty, noting, "I'm a mental health nurse, I went to university for three years… they're fining me more than someone gets for speeding." She also questioned the council's priorities, especially with Christmas approaching, saying, "I've seen people dumping cabinets - that's fly tipping, this isn't."
Council Stands Firm on Zero-Tolerance Policy
Following enquiries from the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the council initially put the fine on hold for review but later reaffirmed its decision. In a statement, Councillor Pritam Grewal, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Customer Experience and Enforcement, defended the council's position.
"We remain committed to taking a zero-tolerance approach to littering and protecting the local environment," Grewal said. The council is clear that littering includes leaving waste anywhere in public apart from in a bin, regardless of whether bins are full. They argue that taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for littering and that the costs could be spent on vital services.
Despite visiting the council offices to appeal, Loretta says she was told that while her circumstances were noted, everyone must be treated equally, and the fine must be paid. Her request to set up a payment plan was reportedly denied.
The case highlights the tension between strict enforcement of environmental laws and the everyday realities faced by residents dealing with what they perceive as inadequate waste collection services.
