Nitpicking council warns man for having three empty wrappers and pods on back ... trends now
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
