Lee Reynolds, 53, received a £1,000 fine for depositing a cardboard box next to an overflowing recycling bin outside a Tesco store in New Milton, Hampshire. The export control worker stated he felt "physically sick" after receiving the enforcement notice, which he felt was a shock for attempting to recycle responsibly.
Reynolds had recently moved and brought several boxes to the community recycling facilities. Upon arrival, he discovered that all four bins were full, with waste scattered on the ground. After checking for available space and finding none, he neatly placed his cardboard box in front of a bin and tidied up nearby litter. However, less than a week later, he was issued a fly-tipping fine for "illegally depositing waste outside of a designated recycling facility."
The New Forest District Council's notice indicated the cardboard box was "out of control," leading to the maximum penalty. Reynolds was able to be identified through an address printed on the box.
He appealed the fine, and the council subsequently changed the offense to "failure to control household waste," reducing the penalty to £300, with an early payment option of £150. Reynolds maintained that the bins were overflowing and there was no visible signage prohibiting placement of recycling adjacent to full containers. He emphasized that he left the box neatly without obstructing access and tidied the area.
A spokesperson for the New Forest District Council stated that the recycling containers are emptied three times a week and are intended for small quantities of recycling. They noted that residents can use household recycling bins or larger Household Waste and Recycling Centres for greater volumes. The council considers placing waste next to full containers at these sites as fly-tipping, which is an offense that can cause environmental hazards and additional costs. The spokesperson added that the site was remodeled and signage was installed on May 20, 2026, prior to the incident, and that the council had observed an increase in fly-tipping at this location.
This incident echoes similar cases, including a man fined £1,000 by Hounslow Council for placing an empty envelope in a public bin and a woman fined £150 by Richmond-upon-Thames Council for pouring coffee down a drain. In both those instances, the fines were later subject to review or cancellation.