Council reverses decision to fine woman £150 for pouring remnants of coffee down drain

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames has reversed its decision to fine a woman £150 for pouring the remnants of her coffee down a street drain.

According to a report on the BBC, Burcu Yesilyurt poured a small amount from her reusable cup down the drain – in order to avoid spilling it on the bus she was about to catch to work.

However, she was stopped by three enforcement officers at the bus stop near Richmond station and given a fine under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which makes it an offence to deposit or dispose of waste in a way likely to pollute land or water.

The council confirmed it has now cancelled the Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN), acknowledging that the contravention was “minor”, “which the recipient agreed not to repeat”.

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Yesilyurt said her encounter with the enforcement officers left her feeling "shaky" as she went into work.

However, the council claimed the enforcement officers “acted appropriately and with sympathy”, and were “in no way aggressive”.

Ms Yesilyurt told the BBC that when she asked the officers what she was supposed to have done with her remaining coffee, she was told to pour it in a nearby bin.

A Richmond Council spokesperson said: “We have reviewed the body-worn footage of the incident. From this, it is clear that a contravention took place. Contrary to the suggestion in reports, the enforcement officers acted appropriately and with sympathy. They were in no way aggressive.

“Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) clearly outline that there is an appeal process available to anyone who wishes to challenge them. It is likely that, had this case progressed through that route, the notice would have been rescinded because it is a minor contravention which the recipient agreed not to repeat. The Council has therefore decided to cancel the FPN.

“We remain committed to protecting Richmond’s waterways and keeping our borough’s streets clean and safe. We are also reviewing our advice on the disposal of liquids in a public place and will be updating this information on our website.”

Lottie Winson