Nitpicking council warns vending machine boss for having three empty coffee wrappers and pods on back seat of van

• Mike Steel, 63, said he was absolutely shocked when he received the letter
• The driver for Fairtrade Vending Ltd, based in Strood, Kent, was stopped in May
• Council said they should get waste carrier license to avoid formal enforcement  

The boss of a vending machine company has blasted a council for ‘bureaucracy gone mad’ after his firm was given a warning for having just three empty coffee wrappers and pods on the back seat of a van.

Medway council sent a letter to the company’s director, Mike Steel, to advise that he should get a correct waste carrier license to avoid any formal enforcement action. 

The driver for Fairtrade Vending Ltd, based in Strood, Kent, was stopped as part of a police and council operation on May 19.

When the officers checked the van they found three gold empty coffee wrappers and pods in the back.

The letter said: ‘Going forward should vehicles of the Fairtrade Vending Ltd be stopped and are carrying waste, formal enforcement action may be taken.’

Medway council sent a letter to the company’s director, Mike Steel, pictured, to advise that he should get a correct waste carrier license to avoid any formal enforcement action

When the officers checked the van they found three gold empty coffee wrappers and pods in the back (pictured)

The company refills, cleans and repairs coffee machines and its vending machines.

Rubbish is usually left at the premises the workers have visited but in this case they were put back in the box with other supplies.

Mr Steel, 63, said he was absolutely shocked when he received the letter saying formal action could be taken.

He said: ‘The driver mentioned he had been stopped but the van had no issues and then we get this letter through. What for? Three empty coffee sleeves.

‘It is just bureaucracy gone mad. Every van in the world has some rubbish in it.’

He added: ‘It just beggars belief. It is too much bureaucracy and red tape. You will get fined for three foil sleeves.

‘As if there is not enough red-tape and bureaucracy to deal with in running a business, especially in these trying times.

‘Medway Council has told us our business rateable value has increased by 94 per cent as of April and yet they are worrying about three empty sleeves of coffee.’

The officer said the grey Vauxhall Vivaro had been stopped as part of a multi-agency operation which involved the Kent Police, the DVSA and the local authority

The letter from an environment enforcement officer was dated the May 25.

The officer said the grey Vauxhall Vivaro had been stopped as part of a multi-agency operation which involved the Kent Police, the DVSA and the local authority.

It read: ‘Having spoken with the driver it was discovered waste was being carried, potentially, without the correct or any waste carrier licence being held.

‘The waste that was being carried were empty coffee wrappers and pods inside cardboard boxes.

‘Going forward should vehicles of the Fairtrade Vending Ltd be stopped and are carrying waste, formal enforcement action may be taken.’

Mr Steel said: ‘It is the same as if you had a crisp packet in the front. You get coffee cups in there. It is just ridiculous.

‘I don’t see the need for a waste carrier licence but we contacted them and were told, no, we need a waste carrier licence.

‘Probably most vans in the country have empty rubbish or stuff in the back. It’s just bureaucracy OTT.’

The company refills, cleans and repairs coffee machines and its vending machines

All waste that is from a commercial activity is classed as business waste and any organisation which transports waste, buys, sells or disposes of waste or arranges for someone else to do so must register for a licence.

According to Medway Council they sent the letter with the hope they could work with the business and offer them advice for the future.

Head of regulatory and environmental services at Medway Council, Ian Gilmore, said: ‘It is illegal for a business or organisation to transport any waste without registering with the Environment Agency for the correct waste carrier license.

‘All business owners have a duty of care and responsibility to ensure their waste is disposed of correctly. We work with businesses and offer them advice.’

Mr Steel has since applied for the free waste carrier licences for all the vans as a precaution.

Even though it isn’t costing any money, the director is left frustrated by the whole debacle.

He added: ‘Although it was free it is just unbelievable that you have to go through that sort of process.’

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