r/Infuriating • u/Aggravating_Pain7116 Recognized Rage Reporter | 25k+ Subreddit Karma • 7d ago

A man was fined £500 after putting his empty coffee cup into a rubbish bag beside an overflowing public bin

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/aug/03/littering-fine-coffee-cup-rubbish-bag-next-to-full-bin?utm_source=chatgpt.com

"I was outside London Waterloo railway station and was looking for a bin to dispose of an empty coffee cup"

"The only bin I could see was completely full, but there was a plastic bag containing rubbish at the base"

"I put my cup in that bag and was stopped by an enforcement officer, who had been standing at a distance watching the bin. He told me I had violated the law and refused my offer to remove my cup. He asked for my details, including my passport"

"After printing out a penalty notice, he remained in the same spot watching the overflowing bin. It seemed like a set-up"

250 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

81 comments sorted by

31

u/NewspaperLow3761 7d ago

I kinda hate how often it comes up that a person is punished for trying to act responsibly because its technically not the right thing.

5

u/Recent_Simple_1868 6d ago

Maybe this is me being Swedish but how is this acting responsibly? If a trash bin is too full you carry the stuff with you, you don't put your shit outside because any sensible person would realize shit would get nasty quick if everyone else did that.

6

u/2020havoc 6d ago

Both can be wrong. Yeah he shouldn't have done it. But the council camping to fine people is akin to entrapment.

Perhaps if the resources were better allocated to emptying bins rather than fining. And it is fair as citizens to question such practices by the council.

3

u/HyperSpaceSurfer 4d ago

Why would they? It's earning them thousands a day.

1

u/tartoran 5d ago

Not what entrapment is and just a daft argument, OK there'd be less litter if somebody else did something differently, how does that affect what I'm doing the same? Don't drop litter on the streets, don't do it smugly through the "well technically I'm covered because I'm just putting it on this massively overflowing bin, where I have no idea [looks at the camera and winks] whether it will blow off in the slightest gust of wind, so I've done my part!", and then especially don't get indignant about what other people could've done differently and how that makes what you did ok when caught out

1

u/2020havoc 5d ago

Maybe read first. If you did that you would see that criticizing the council is fair. No one's defending the litterbug.

1

u/tartoran 5d ago

I tried reading and it just meant pumping nonsense from people who don't know what entrapment is through my brain

1

u/Jale89 4d ago

I'd agree if he was just leaving it outside the bin on its own, but adding it to an existing additional bag isn't really increasing the overall mess. The guy has filled his end of the social contract by bringing the waste to the designated place, while the council or business hasn't fulfilled their end by servicing the designated area, or making it large enough to accommodate the waste it gets between emptyings.

Sure, if many people did this, itwould add up, but it's still infuriating that some council employee is camping out to fine people for a fairly ordinary behaviour, rather than a council employee emptying the bin. And £500 is completely disproportionate to the offense.

1

u/nimbledoor 4d ago

I agree, it’s not responsible. But unfortunately many people think they are entitled to leave their trash outside of full bins.

-1

u/[deleted] 6d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/tartoran 5d ago

Guy who loves living in litter-filled streets:

0

u/Taurondir 6d ago

This is what I would do. There is bins in other places, please don't tell me you can't walk 30 meters to throw it into another bin when technically you have ALREADY been walking around the place with that damn cup. in your hand.

"but I must use THE CLOSEST BIN!"

FFS. Why is this even up for discussion.

I have people at my local supermarket drive a trolley INTO A WALKWAY CHOKEPOINT and then abandon it, meaning that someone, at some point, carrying multiple bags, needs to stop and remove the trolley just to walk past properly, and the fekking nearest trolley bay is literally 15 meters away at most. They don't even bother driving it FIVE extra meters out of the chokepoint and into the exterior footpath for some fekking reason.

1

u/International-Pass22 5d ago

Especially around Waterloo, there are so many bins.

That said, if this is regular enough that the enforcement officer waits near the bin, clearly they either need more bins, or more frequent emptying

1

u/New_Enthusiasm9053 4d ago

Are there many bins? I've never been anywhere in London and thought there's a lot of bins. I'm in a different country right now and the parks have bins no joke every 10m on both sides. That's a lot of bins. 

0

u/UpstairsAd194 6d ago

that s uk most people are nastly little mutants, and the one that put on the uniform to do that job have no self respect

1

u/BackgroundForward475 5d ago

You must be one of them

8

u/massivegoooner 6d ago

It's completely absurd how things have gotten.

But it's literally intentional. Councils have a funding gap. Fining people like this is important.

4

u/BADoVLAD 6d ago

Fining people for throwing away trash is important?

0

u/massivegoooner 6d ago

Yes. Otherwise councils will go bankrupt.

This sort of stealth taxation has become a cornerstone of revenue.

1

u/Connect_Name3362 6d ago

How is that responsible? It's no different to throwing stuff on the ground because there's no bin.

1

u/Connect_Name3362 6d ago

How is that responsible? It's no different to throwing stuff on the ground because there's no bin.

11

u/EdmundTheInsulter 6d ago

On the documentary I saw, the officer warned a street vendor 3 times and did nothing, but he issued a fine to a man who threw a butt into a drain.

2

u/Icy_Gap_9067 6d ago

I'm also suspicious if a big tough looking man drops litter will he be approached the same as a little old pensioner, or are these fines applied only to people they think won't kick off. I hate littering with a passion but the way these things often work out practically i doubt it's fairly applied to all.

9

u/Existing_Doughnut985 6d ago

This is why the killdozer was built

3

u/iBUYbrokenSUBARUS 6d ago

I’m working on one now. 6 years in the making. Hope to have it ready next summer.

1

u/prionbinch Community Regular 6d ago

is that why you buy broken subarus? to scrap for killdozer parts?

1

u/iBUYbrokenSUBARUS 6d ago

Lol no but you might be on to something.

I started with a 42 year old Caterpillar D9H. At this point it’s hard to tell that that was what it once was. It’s beautiful and ugly as sin at the same time 😆

-1

u/tartoran 5d ago

No the killdozer was built because a psychopathic manchild wanted to steal someone else's property and leak liquid shit into the environment because he was too cheap to install a septic tank on the bit he did own

3

u/meatflaps-69 7d ago

Simply walk away.

1

u/EdmundTheInsulter 6d ago

I'm not sure that's a legal right you know, I think they can call in the police to then apprehend you. I mean it may not be bad advice though if you're quick.

2

u/devandroid99 6d ago

The police won't arrest you for not giving details for an alleged very minor offence they haven't seen take place.

1

u/EdmundTheInsulter 6d ago

I think it's an offence to leave, the inspectors may be acting with police support.

1

u/No-Bluejay4261 6d ago

If the police aren't there, what is he going to do? call them? ok then... bye.

1

u/UpstairsAd194 6d ago

"A;pha Delta Foxtrot.. Locked in on target - suspect is octogenarian, white - suspect assumed also to not have tv license. High alert . All cars to crime scene - burger did not go in bin. Repeat burger did not go in bin. Suspect did not terminate disposal procedure. Proceed with caution.

2

u/Puzzleheaded-Key2212 6d ago

They have no legal authority over you, they aren’t police. They are literally minimum wage dodgy contractors most aren’t even English.

1

u/PhilosopherSea217 6d ago

I dunno. Would the please really chase after someone over a coffee cup?

1

u/Able_Resident_1291 3d ago

Police will always go for the low-hanging fruit if possible

1

u/Historical_Load1662 6d ago

Good luck waiting 3 hours for police to arrive if at all.

3

u/No-Bluejay4261 6d ago

Yeah I'm not giving that guy my details. Not in a millions years. What powers do they have? Certainly no power to detain. See ya.

2

u/carl0071 6d ago

People still have the mindset that if someone in authority is asking for your details, they’re doing it for good reason, but with private litter police on commission to issue fines, the best thing you can do is ignore them and walk away.

1

u/Able_Resident_1291 3d ago

No power to detain, but they do have the power to demand your details, and if you can be identified later you may face charges. From https://stand2.com/can-you-refuse-to-give-your-details-to-an-enforcement-officer/

For offences like littering and other environmental enforcement, an authorised officer has a specific statutory power to require your name and address, and refusing - or giving false details - is a separate criminal offence in its own right under Section 8(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, carrying a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record, on top of whatever the original offence carried.

5

u/NeitherEntry6125 7d ago

All cops are......

2

u/yeiamsatonthetoilet 6d ago

It's not cops, it's private companies hired by councils to deal with this kind of thing. The issue is that the companies get commission, and councils use it as a way to generate some money. 

2

u/TradeAffectionate200 7d ago

say it with us kids 

2

u/Existing_Doughnut985 6d ago

Not a cop, just a scumbag doing outsourced work for commission 

You don’t legally have to give them anything when they ask your name, a middle finger and walking away is more than acceptable 

2

u/Peterd1900 6d ago

For offences like littering , a civil enforcement officer has a specific statutory power to require your name and address, and refusing - or giving false details - is a separate criminal offence  under Section 8(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, carrying a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal record, on top of whatever the original offence carried.

This power also extends directly to private contractors hired by a local council.

0

u/devandroid99 6d ago

What statute grants them that power? Section 8 of which part of the EPA 1990?

1

u/Peterd1900 6d ago

Section 88

If an authorised officer of a litter authority proposes to give a person a notice under this section, the officer may require the person to give him his name and address.

(8B)A person commits an offence if—

(a)he fails to give his name and address when required to do so under subsection (8A) above, or

(b)he gives a false or inaccurate name or address in response to a requirement under that subsection

person guilty of an offence under subsection (8B) above is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.]

2

u/Xentonian 6d ago

Oi mate, you got a loicense for putting that rubbish in a rubbish bag next to the bin?

0

u/whit3o 6d ago

Hahaha that's so funny! Because that's the accent, but you wrote it like how they speak! I've never seen that before hahahaha /s

2

u/LondonEntUK 6d ago

‘I don’t have any ID with me, I’ve taken the cup out of the bin, any further issues, call the police to assist, goodbye’

2

u/No-Bluejay4261 6d ago

Correct. He has no power to detain. I am leaving.

2

u/Latter-Tangerine-951 6d ago

Don't ever give your details to these people. Just walk away. They have zero power over you.

1

u/cannon4344 6d ago

You would be committing an offence by doing that, but it's up to you if you want to do that, they would have to find a police officer to deal with that offence.

1

u/HeWhoHasABeard 5d ago

If you don’t stop because you didn’t hear them though 🤷‍♂️

1

u/tartoran 5d ago

I mean give your details if you've actually been littering, but yes if some petty tyrant is trying to bully you and you know you're innocent then by all means fuck them

2

u/Proof_Rise_3652 6d ago

How is this possible in a city were trashbags are disposed on the sidewalk anyways. I have seen London and it was absolutely foul with trashbags everywhere in the streets.

2

u/BurlyJoesBudgetEnema 6d ago

That just isnt true mate

1

u/voltran1995 6d ago

He just forgot to mention he went to London mid 1858

1

u/flopisit32 6d ago

"I was in London and someone flung the contents of their bedpan on me from a upstairs window! By George, I muttered, Is it St Swithens day already?"

1

u/QuentinUK 6d ago

Maybe it’s just dustbin day but I’ve also see the trashbags on the footpath in the City.

  • Red bags, are for light general waste from retailers and offices
  • Blue bags for recycling, they are for all your recyclable paper, cardboard, glass, cans, plastic pots, trays, tubs and bottles as well as Tetra type packs.
  • Yellow cardboard stickers are disposing of your flat-packed cardboard boxes.
  • Heavy-duty red bags are stronger, larger bags suitable for heavy waste from hospitality businesses
  • Large grey bags are used for waste compactors

1

u/mdmdmdmdmdmdmdmdmdm 5d ago

Have you not been to london? Specifically central?

There are no communal bin areas for businesses in central london. The solution is to have the council spend out special bin bags.

If you are a business with these bin bags, its because your only option is to leave your waste out on the streets.

1

u/Melodic_Sandwich1112 6d ago

They have large sealed bins, what are you on about

1

u/mdmdmdmdmdmdmdmdmdm 5d ago

Majority of businesses in central london to not have large sealed bins and instead the council gives them special waste bags which get placed on the pavement outside.

1

u/WeeBeefy 5d ago

"trashbags", "sidewalk", I don't think you've been to London.

1

u/Big_Arachnid_365 6d ago

Yeah it's no joke, they pay people to just slap people with this fine all day so they're watching every overflowing bin, every person smoking, and probably anyone who spits too.

1

u/Ok_Aioli3897 6d ago

When they say plastic bag what type of bag?

1

u/IntelligentDoor219 6d ago

Yeah I’d just be telling him to F off and move on

1

u/QuentinUK 6d ago

Luckily he never first poured away the excess coffee down the drain as that would be another £150 fine for a breach of Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Key2212 6d ago

I wouldn’t give them any details they have no authority whatsoever. They can get fucked

1

u/WelderOk4162 4d ago

Walk away they can't do anything. You don't have to talk to them you don't have to open the door for tv licence people. You don't even have to let the police in without a warrant. People need to stop being submissive.

1

u/cuntry_member 4d ago

I have a theory - councils behave like this because they have so utterly mismanaged money (the send crisis for example).

This behaviour is disgusting and doesn't help anyone...

1

u/Facktat 3d ago

This kind of reminds me of Berlin. In Berlin there are stations where controllers are waiting at the station for people to validate tickets on their phone before stepping into the tram. They do this because you need to wait 60 seconds before getting into it. They watch you validating it and then follow to fine you before the 60 seconds run out.

0

u/TawnyTeaTowel 6d ago

I’ll take “Thing that didn’t happen” for 500…

1

u/CarpenterWeird1940 6d ago

The guardian is a fairly reputable source