The boss of a vending machine firm has hit out at the council after a driver was warned for having coffee wrappers in his van.

Director of Fairtrade Vending Ltd, Mike Steel, said he was absolutely shocked when he received the cautionary letter from Medway Council 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.”

The driver was stopped as part of a multi-agency operation, with Kent Police, the DVSA and the local authority, on May 19 where the enforcement officers found the three gold empty wrappers in the back.

The company, based in Trident Close, on the Medway City Estate, Strood, 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.

The letter, dated May 25, from a council environmental enforcement officer, said the grey Vauxhall Vivaro had been stopped as part of the operation.

It added: “...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.

“It is 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% as of April and yet they are worrying about three empty sleeves of coffee.”

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.

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.