Woman Fined £150 for Pouring Coffee Down Drain – Council U-Turns
A west London woman was slapped with a shocking £150 fine for pouring leftover coffee down a drain near Richmond station – but the council has now dropped the penalty.
Reusable Cup User Stunned by Hefty Fine
Burcu Yesilyurt, from Kew, was emptying her reusable cup before catching a bus on October 10 when three enforcement officers stopped her cold and handed over the hefty fine.
“It feels quite unfair, the fine was extreme,” Ms Yesilyurt told BBC News. She described the encounter as “intimidating” and said she had no idea her simple action was illegal.
Council Apologises and Calls It a “Minor Contravention”
Richmond-upon-Thames Council later admitted pouring coffee down the drain was a minor offence. After Ms Yesilyurt promised not to do it again, they withdrew the £150 fine.
The council apologised for the incident but defended its officers, saying they acted professionally. They emphasised their commitment to protecting the borough’s waterways from pollution.
