https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg435gg66gpo.A woman says she was “shocked” when she was fined £150 for tipping the remnants of her coffee down a road gully in west London…Burcu Yesilyurt, who lives in Kew, said she thought she was acting “responsibly” when she poured out a small amount of coffee from her reusable cup down the drain rather than risk spilling it on the bus she was about to catch to work…But to her surprise, she was then stopped by three enforcement officers at the bus stop near Richmond station and fined under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, external.Credit: BBCA WOMAN was confronted by three officers and slapped with a fine for pouring the dregs of her coffee down a high street drain.
The enforcement officers stopped Burcu Yesilyurt near Richmond station, , earlier this month leaving her “shocked”.
She was then slapped with a £150 fine under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Burcu, who lives in Kew, told the BBC it was “just a tiny little bit” she poured down the drain from her reusable cup while waiting at a .
“I noticed my bus was approaching, so I just poured the leftover bit,” she said.
“As soon as I turned around, I noticed three men, enforcement officers, chasing me and they stopped me immediately.”
Thinking they were going to speak to her about the bus, she was astonished when she instead told to pay a fine for breaking the .
Burcu claimed she was trying to act responsibly but the officers informed her she should have disposed of the dregs in a bin.
When she pointed out that there were no signs informing people it was an offence, she didn’t receive an answer.
Council said the officers “acted professionally and objectively”.
According to Section 33, it’s against the law to dispose of waste that will be pollute land or water – including pouring liquids into drains in the street.
Burcu branded the fine “quite unfair” and “extreme” and said the incident left her shaken as she made her way into work that day.
She has now lodged a complaint with Richmond Council and has not yet paid the fine.
She has also called for the law to be made clear to people.
Richmond Council told the BBC: “Nobody likes receiving a fine, and we always aim to apply our policies fairly and with understanding.”
They added they were committed to “protecting Richmond’s waterways” and pointed out they those who feel a fine has been unfairly issued can “request a review”.
Burcu Yesilyurt was slapped with a £150 fine by three officers after pouring the rest of her coffee down the drainCredit: BBC
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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