Black Household Waste Bin

loonywitch

Okay, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to ask this question in this forum but it seemed more appropriate than anywhere else (sorry if not and can someone move it?) So my question:

Is it reasonable for my Local Authority to charge me £15 delivery for a new bin?

Here's the back story:

Basically a few months ago, my black bin was stolen (full aswell!) and set alight not so far away. I rang the council and was told that delivery charge for the bin would £15 or I could collect it for free from their depot which is open 9am-3pm Monday to Friday. I was less than impressed as I work Monday to Friday, 8.30am-5pm in a neighbouring authority which is approximately 45minutes drive if the roads are clear. I ended up collecting it and using 1/2 day leave.

The new bin as been useless. Twice following my bin being emptied I have found large cracks on the corners of the front of the bin and I am not the only one this has happened to on the street. I rang the Local Authority up and they advised because they had no reported faults from the manufacturer that the above information still stood, and perhaps it was my fault for putting 2 much waste it it - it's never packed! They also expect me to take my smelly bin back if I am to collect a new one. We have temporarily taped it to stop rubbish seeping out but the duct tape doesn't seem to be strong enough to hold it.

I'm annoyed to put it in the politest way possible. I feel like I am being punished for working the hours I work! I am unable to get there without using any leave, and in any case we no longer have our second car which the bin did fit in. And also, this is a fault with the bin!! I refuse to pay £15 as I don't think it's reasonable to travel a few measley miles that would take around 20 minutes there and back (and they're more than likely have rounds they do anyway) and the local authority I work for do not charge anything.

Is there anything I can do?

tbw

I'm not trying to critisise you for feeling annoyed - but my Council provides B***** All!!! They used to give out free black bin liners but stopped doing that several years ago, now they supply only recycling bags free of charge. Black bin liners have to be paid for or bought from a supermarket.

Neither do they provide free wheelie bins or plastic dustbins - even if the bin men manage to squash your own paid for bin its just about impossible to get the council to replace it.

arcon5

I don't want to rub it in... but about 2 weeks ago we requested a new waste bin because it was getting very full very quickly (don't know how since theres only two of us in the house)... they said they would deliver it for free within 2 weeks -- it arrived by time I finished work the day after .

But no I wouldn't consider £15 to be reasonable in the slightest. But you can't reason with the council!!

loonywitch

We've never been provided with bin liners anyway and if they did try to charge me for the bin on this occasion then there'd be more than one bad ear in that office!

And don't get me started on additional bins! They will deliver a recycling bin free of charge, and an additional (but smaller) black bin free of charge if I had more than 4 people living in the property!

If the bin gets any worse then I'm considering painting my green bin black!

red_eye

I told my council that my bin was cracked and full of maggots and the neighbours are complaining about the flys, they sent me two free of charge both with useless lids im stil getting flys

texranger

if our bins are stolen/damaged then we have to pay £60 to get them replaced.

also during the summer we used to be able to get 10 bio degradeable bags for 50p so we could placed our grass cuttings/ dead plants in and then place them out with our recycle bin. now their is no bages just anpther wheely bin at £20 that will be used for approx. 4 months