A man facing a £1,000 fine for depositing cardboard next to a full recycling bin at a Tesco store in New Milton, Hampshire, is determined to continue his fight after the penalty was reduced. Lee Reynolds received the fine on June 3 from the New Forest District Council (NDFC) for what they termed as “illegally depositing waste.” Reynolds contested the penalty, citing that the warning sign against leaving waste was obscured by the overflowing bins, leading NDFC to downgrade the offense to a “failure to control household waste” with a reduced fine of £150 if paid by July 3. Despite paying the reduced fine, Reynolds remains dissatisfied with the outcome.
Expressing his frustration, Reynolds mentioned that his appeals to the council were not acknowledged, and he felt compelled to pay the reduced fine before the deadline to avoid prosecution. He has now escalated the matter to the district council’s complaints process and intends to involve the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman if necessary. Reynolds emphasized the fire hazard posed by the excessive waste accumulation at the site and criticized the council for failing to maintain cleanliness while penalizing him for the situation.
In response, a spokesperson for NFDC highlighted that depositing waste next to full containers is considered flytipping, stressing the importance of responsible waste disposal to prevent environmental hazards and extra costs for the council. The council acknowledged an increase in fly tipping at the location and mentioned efforts to address the issue through education and enhanced signage at the site before the incident occurred.