A mother was fined £150 for dropping a kale leaf in a trolley while she was collecting food for vulnerable people. Monica Serro, 42, was loading her Olio food collection in Sainsbury's car park in Arnold, Nottingham, when an enforcement officer claimed she was littering.
She had spent the day collecting much-needed food parcels from local supermarkets, which she then offered for free from her home to those in need. The welfare officer had just taken her trolley back when a large kale leaf became wedged between the metal frame. An enforcement officer working for Gedling Borough Council confronted her about the loose kale, claiming it was 'food waste' and fining her £150.
The mum-of-one said: 'I was collecting waste food from supermarkets with the plan being that people would then come and collect the food from my house. As a volunteer, we collect the food and pass it on for free to the community. I was collecting food from Sainsbury's, but we never know the amount we're getting. As I returned, an officer from the council was there, and he walked up and said, 'You know you just littered, you left a wrapping paper in the trolley.''
After explaining the situation, the officer printed out a fine and told her 'That's food waste, next time use a bin'. Monica said: 'The whole thing was ridiculous. You're trying to reduce food waste, and then you get told you're adding to it. I didn't notice it was on the trolley. My mum told him I was a volunteer collecting food for the community. He said if I refused to provide my details, he would increase the fine. I didn't want to argue anymore; my mum was getting really upset. He gave me the fine and took the kale leaf and gave it to me.'
Monica contacted the council, which eventually cancelled the fine on June 13 after several emails. She said the officer put a different address on the fine and claimed she threw a cigarette to the floor. She disputed the fine and asked the council to look at bodycam footage. The council later apologised, citing a 'technical error'. A spokesperson said: 'We have investigated the incident and agree that it was not a deliberate act of littering. The fixed penalty notice was cancelled, and we apologise for any distress caused.'
