Households have been told their bins may not be collected (stock image) (Image: Getty)
Nobody wants to be left with loads of rubbish, but households have been told their bins may not be collected if a certain item is spotted inside their food waste. Little you may know, there are important rules you need to follow when putting your bins out for collection.
A binman, known as The No1 Binman on TikTok, has told people they run the risk of rubbish piling up if one item is spotted in their food waste bin. According to expert advice, people need to stop making the mistake, or their waste may not be taken at all, which can leave them with an unsightly and smelly problem.
It’s not the first time such advice has been shared either. Previously, it was revealed households need to stop recycling another item at home too.
Sharing advice about food waste, he said: “So many people are getting this confused, and I don’t understand why. Garden waste is not food waste.
“You get your grass cuttings. Do not put them in your food waste caddy. Garden trimmings, grass trimmings. They go in your compost bin, not your food waste bin.”
Read more: Households warned rubbish ‘won’t be collected’ if common packaging spotted
He continued: “So many people are getting confused. They put branches and stuff in it, and then they go ‘why didn’t it get emptied?’ Because it’s not food waste.
“So, if it’s not the items it says it’s listed down as, do not put it in there. That goes for flowers also – not food waste.
“Do not put them in there. It goes in the garden waste. If you don’t have the garden waste, take it to the tip. Compost it yourself – either way, absolutely fine.
“Just don’t put it in your food caddy. Otherwise, it’ll get left, especially if it’s mixed with your food. You’re going to then have to sort it.”
The mistake is simple to make, and many think it may be ok to recycle garden waste in this way. However, if you’re caught making the error, it could leave you with a big problem.
Can binmen refuse to take your bins?
Little you may know, binmen can actually refuse to take your rubbish. This tends to happen if it breaches local council rules.
For example, having the lid open, being too heavy or containing contaminated recycling (e.g. food in paper bins) are reasons they could reject it. Other common reasons include having “side waste” (bags next to the bin), wrong items being included or putting the bin out late.
Generally, garden waste should not be mixed in with food. Food is often sent for anaerobic digestion, while garden waste is composted, and contamination can prevent recycling. While some areas may allow mixed “green” waste, most specific food caddies forbid garden waste and garden bins often forbid food.
This is why it’s so essential to make sure you get it right. In many areas, food waste goes into small indoor or outdoor caddies, and garden waste goes into a separate, larger bin.
Rules can vary between different councils though. If in doubt, check the website to see what’s allowed in the area where you live.