In London, England, a woman was fined 150 pounds (approximately 290,000 won) for pouring leftover coffee into a drain on her way to work.
What exactly happened?
A woman in London, England, sparked controversy after being fined 150 pounds (approximately 290,000 won) for disposing of leftover coffee in a drain on her way to work. Pixabay
원본보기 아이콘London, England: Controversy Over Fine for a Sip of Coffee
According to The Guardian, the BBC, and other sources on the 23rd (local time), Burcu Yesilyurt, a resident of Kew in West London, was caught by three enforcement officers near Richmond Station on the 10th while preparing to go to work.
The reason was a violation of Article 33 of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA). This provision prohibits disposing of waste in ways that could pollute land or water.
Yesilyurt explained the situation, saying, "I saw the bus approaching and just poured a small amount of leftover coffee from my reusable cup," adding, "It was really just a tiny amount, and I only did it because I was worried I might spill coffee inside the bus."
However, she added, "As soon as I turned around, three enforcement officers approached and stopped me," and "Their approach was very shocking."
She said, "I didn't know it was illegal to pour liquid into a drain, and I didn't see any related signs," adding, "The officers did not provide any explanation and were quite intimidating."
When she asked how she should dispose of the remaining coffee, the officers instructed her to use a nearby trash bin.
Yesilyurt strongly expressed her dissatisfaction, saying the fine was excessively harsh.
Fine Cancelled After Local Council Re-examines Amid Growing Controversy
Initially, the Richmond local council insisted that the enforcement was justified, stating it was "in accordance with policy."
However, after continued public criticism, the council reviewed the case by checking the enforcement officers' bodycam footage. As a result, on the afternoon of the 22nd, the council sent Yesilyurt an email stating that the penalty notice had been cancelled.
A council representative said, "No citizen wants to receive a fine," adding, "We continuously review our policies to ensure they are applied fairly and reasonably." They also emphasized, "Any unjustly imposed fines can be cancelled upon review."
What do you think about this case, where someone nearly had to pay a 300,000 won fine over a sip of coffee?
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Edit Kim Inwook kiminuki@asiae.co.kr
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Reporter Kim Eunha galaxy656574@asiae.co.kr
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