A single mother from Feltham, West London, has been fined £1,000 by Hounslow Council for 'fly-tipping' after placing a cardboard envelope on top of cardboard next to full communal bins. Loretta Alvarez, 26, a mental health nurse, says the bins shared by around 25 households were overflowing, and she left the envelope beside them.
Alvarez stated she cannot afford the fine, which she was told must be paid by November 5 or face legal proceedings. She expressed concern about the impact on her employment and DBS checks. 'I'm a single mum working as a mental health nurse. I pay all my rent, council tax and bills, I can't afford to pay that,' she said.
The council initially put the fine on hold after enquiries from the Local Democracy Reporting Service but has since reaffirmed it. Councillor Pritam Grewal said the council takes a zero-tolerance approach to littering, adding that leaving waste anywhere except in a bin is an offence, regardless of bin capacity.
Alvarez argues that the bins are often full before weekly collections and that the council should provide better waste management. She noted that other items, such as a discarded fridge, were found nearby but not traced. 'It does feel like they are targeting me,' she said, adding that she was refused a payment plan.
