The Cha Sha cafe in Ilford has been fined £4,675 after failing to address repeated commercial waste breaches despite warnings. An unannounced inspection found an unlocked, overflowing dumpster, open sacks and loose rubbish that could attract vermin. Redbridge Council warned that improper waste storage threatens public health and can cause litter, pollution and air-quality issues. The prosecution is intended as a warning to other businesses to manage waste responsibly.
Ilford cafe fined £4,675 after repeated waste breaches; council calls it a 'threat to public health'
The Cha Sha cafe in Ilford has been fined £4,675 after failing to address repeated commercial waste breaches despite warnings. An unannounced inspection found an unlocked, overflowing dumpster, open sacks and loose rubbish that could attract vermin. Redbridge Council warned that improper waste storage threatens public health and can cause litter, pollution and air-quality issues. The prosecution is intended as a warning to other businesses to manage waste responsibly.
07:50 AM, 11/15/2025Environment
Cha Sha cafe in Ilford hit with £4,675 fine after failing to fix waste violations
The Cha Sha cafe in Ilford, England, has been ordered to pay a £4,675 fine (about $6,100) after repeatedly ignoring warnings about how it stored and managed commercial waste, Redbridge Council says.
The council served the business with a legal notice under the Environmental Protection Act. An unannounced inspection found the issues had not been resolved: a commercial dumpster was unlocked and overflowing, open sacks of rubbish were present, and loose litter was scattered on the ground — conditions that could attract vermin and increase health risks.
"Failure to store waste correctly is a threat to public health," said Khayer Chowdhury, Redbridge Council cabinet member for community safety. "We have zero tolerance for grime crime in our borough. It's up to all of us to keep Redbridge clean and tidy, and this includes businesses."
Overflowing dumpsters and poorly managed commercial waste can contribute to litter, unpleasant odours and local air-quality issues. They also increase the risk of soil and water pollution if chemicals leach from discarded materials.
Restaurants and cafes generate large volumes of packaging and food containers, many made from plastic. That adds to the global problem of plastic waste, which can take decades to break down and may release microplastics that are an emerging concern for human health.
Redbridge Council said the prosecution should serve as a warning to other businesses that fail to manage their waste responsibly. The council has indicated it is prepared to take firm action against repeat offenders to protect public health and cleanliness in the borough.