UK households have been told bins may not be collected (stock image) (Image: Getty)
Putting the bins out for collection is a task we all have to do, but they may not be taken away if the wrong items are found inside. Little you may know, there are strict rules people need to follow to make sure their waste gets taken away properly every week.
The advice was recently shared by a binman, known as The No 1 Binman on TikTok, who often shares handy advice about bin collections. According to him, simple mistakes can prevent rubbish from being collected, which can leave you with both an unsightly and smelly problem, especially during the warmer months of the year.
It’s not the only guidance of its kind to be issued either. Previously, people were told to stop placing a popular item in their food waste bins too.
In a clip shared online, he said there are some super important rules people need to follow when it comes to recycling plastic. It’s not as easy as simply throwing it in the recycling bin.
This is because there are different kinds of plastic. You need to know your stuff before throwing it in the trash, or it could leave you with a problem.
He said: “Plastic, not all plastic is the same. Ok, so you have thin plastics, you have soft plastics, you have hard plastics, and it depends on the council which they actually take.
“Most of them just take normal bottles, or tins and stuff like that in your plastic bin. [They are] the only things they’ll take. They won’t take anything like carrier bags, black bags, they also won’t take any films.
“All that sort of stuff, it ruins the machines they send the stuff to. Every recycling centre is different, so they get told what they can take and what they can’t take, and they’re the ones who make the rules. Not the binmen.
“It’s not our choice. We just get told. So, if there are any plastics that you’re unsure about, maybe ask your council website or maybe you can ask the binmen. They might know.”
So, it’s important you’re clued up before jumping into action. Learning more about the process could aid you in more ways than one.
Can binmen refuse to take your rubbish?
You may not realise, but binmen can actually refuse to collect your waste. They commonly do this if your recycling is contaminated, if it’s considered excessive (too heavy or bags beside the bin) or if the bin isn’t presented correctly.
It’s worth noting they generally must collect household waste unless there’s a valid reason not to. This is because councils are obligated to provide the service.
When they refuse to collect, it’s usually due to reasons relating to safety, contamination or someone not following council rules. For example, leaving “side waste” can be an issue.
However, it’s worth noting that you shouldn’t place carrier bags in your home recycling waste. Even though they can be recycled, you need to take them to special collection points, which are usually found at larger supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and Waitrose.
The stores provide in-store drop-off bins for “soft plastics” like bread bags, films and pouches. If the item is ever seen in your waste, binmen can refuse to take it away, as it can contaminate the load.
It’s always best to check your council website for guidance, as each area will have different rules. Sometimes regulations can differ between councils.