Share and Follow
A London woman’s morning routine took an unexpected turn when she was fined heavily for disposing of a small amount of coffee down a storm drain, as reported by various sources.
In a quick decision on October 10, Burcu Yesilyurt opted to pour a “tiny bit” of coffee from her reusable cup into a drain, aiming to prevent any spillage on her commute via bus in southwest London, according to the BBC.
Almost instantly, Yesilyurt found herself surrounded by three officers at the bus stop. They issued her a £150 fine—approximately $200—citing Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This law prohibits the improper disposal of waste, which includes the act of pouring liquids into street drains.
Recalling the incident, Yesilyurt stated, “As soon as I turned around, I noticed three men, enforcement officers, chasing me, and they stopped me immediately,” in her conversation with the news outlet.
“As soon as I turned around, I noticed three men, enforcement officers, chasing me, and they stopped me immediately,” she told the outlet.
The law enforcement encounter over such a minor, unsuspecting move left Yesilyurt feeling “shaky.”
“It was quite a shock,” she said.
She hadn’t seen any signs in the area indicating that she was not allowed to dump anything into the drain, and was told by officers that she should have poured the morning brew in a nearby rubbish bin.
“It feels quite unfair. I think the fine is extreme. It’s not proportionate,” Yesilyurt said.
After reports of the incident went viral across social media — where users balked at the “ridiculous” fine — local officials decided to drop the offense on Wednesday.
The Richmond Council canceled the fine, declaring it was “likely” that Yesilyurt’s appeal would have been approved anyway, the outlet reported.
The council still maintained that the law enforcement response was “justified.”
“I’m quite happy the council recognised the sensitivity of this situation and they’ve reconsidered,” Yesilyurt said.
“I’ve not met anyone who knows it’s a criminal offence,” she added.
