I was fined £500 for putting a cigarette butt in a refuse sack

A London resident was issued a £500 fixed-penalty notice by Haringey council for discarding a cigarette butt in a refuse sack awaiting collection, a decision the council later reversed [1]. The council initially argued the act constituted littering because the refuse sack was not a designated public bin, threatening prosecution if the fine was not paid [1]. The recipient, identified only as TW, expressed outrage, stating they had not "knowingly dropped litter since I was a child" [1]. Unlike parking fines, such fixed-penalty notices for littering cannot be formally appealed and double if unpaid within 28 days [1]. Government guidance requires fines to be proportionate, but penalties vary widely; dropping a cigarette in one London street can incur an £80 fine, while a different borough may charge £500 [1]. After the case was challenged, Haringey council reconsidered the evidence and canceled the £500 penalty [1]. The council's website does not explain the specific rule against using refuse sacks [1].