Woman's Fly-Tipping Fine Revoked After Charity Donation Incident
A woman from West Malling, Kent, who was issued a £1,000 fine for fly-tipping after leaving a bag of donated clothes at a collection point, has had the penalty revoked, she has stated.
Kate Clayton reported that shortly after placing a bag of clothes at a donation point, which was already full, she was approached by a worker in council uniform and issued a fine.
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council later rescinded the fine and issued an apology following contact from the BBC, an outcome Clayton described as "so happy and relieved".
The fine was issued by Kingdom Local Authority Support, a council contractor, which stated it was "content the relevant enforcement processes were followed".
Details of the Incident
Clayton, a teacher, told the BBC that the enforcement worker declined to withdraw the fine despite her offer to take the bag home, which she ultimately did.
"I honestly thought he was going to ask me for directions," she said, adding, "I told him I was not fly-tipping, I'm donating to charity."
The 57-year-old explained that she had managed to fit two bags of clothing into the donation bin at a supermarket in West Malling before it became full, and she left the third bag beside it.
"I was beyond distressed, I couldn't believe it," Clayton said. "It was just an awful experience."
She also expressed frustration about the enforcement, stating,
"The trouble is there's a lot of fly-tipping goes on but I'm sure those people don't get fined."
Council and Contractor Statements
A spokesperson for Kingdom Local Authority Support said the enforcement process was "in line with agreed policies with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council."
They added,
"In accordance with national legislation, leaving items outside charity donation banks is classed as fly-tipping. Such items are not collected or removed by the charities operating the banks and can lead to obstruction, environmental issues, and additional costs for local authorities and the taxpayer."
A representative from Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council confirmed that after reviewing the case, the fine had been rescinded.
"We apologise to the resident for the inconvenience and any concern this may have caused. We have instructed Kingdom to cease any further enforcement action in such instances."
In a letter to Clayton revoking the fine, the council acknowledged that her "original complaint was, unfortunately, overlooked" and apologised for any distress caused.
Background and Wider Context
Clayton reached out to the BBC after reading reports about two neighbours who were fined by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council for leaving charity collection bags outside their homes.
The council increased its maximum fines for littering and fly-tipping in 2024.
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