Gran receives £600 fine for fly‑tipping in Reading

A 78‑year‑old Reading resident, referred to in local media as Mrs. Carole Wright, was fined £600 by the district council after she placed a single cardboard box adjacent to an overflowing recycling bin at the town’s central waste facility. The council argues the action constituted illegal fly‑tipping under the Local Authority Waste Management Regulations, and the gran faces possible criminal proceedings if the fine is not paid. Wright’s daughter, Emma Richardson, launched a GoFundMe campaign on 24 January 2026 to raise money for the penalty, citing “no intent to pollute” and claiming the box was merely a packing remnant. The incident has sparked debate over local waste rules and the treatment of elderly offenders.