Bins shared with neighbours - end of my tether!!!

wannalot

Hello, 

I’m hoping someone can give me advice. I live in a ground-floor flat, and I have one family of neighbours living above me. We each have a set of bins (one for recycling and some others for various recycling. Up to recently, our general waste was collected every fortnight, but the council has now stated that they will only be emptied every three weeks.  My neighbours don’t recycle anything, and for the past few months their general waste bin has been filled to overflowing. They pile bags on top of it, and then dump general waste in their recycling bins, even though the council will not take it if they find it. 

Their disregard for the recycling isn’t really any of my business, but their overflowing bin is really annoying me. It is right at the side of the building, and it is very obvious that some animals are tearing into them. Our bins were emptied on Thursday, and I went out today and they have already filled their general waste bin, which means they will pile their rubbish up uncovered for the next two weeks. Over the past 2 months, I have had to clean up their rubbish from my part of the garden at least 3 times: plastic bags, cans and paper blow onto my lawn and egg shells and paper land on the path.

I’ve already complained to my neighbours directly once,and they cleaned up the rubbish that day, but the rest of the time, they don’t see a problem. I’m really at the end of my tether, to the extent that I am thinking of selling up. I hate confrontation with neighbours. What would you do to deal with this situation? 

KimJongUn88

You need to relax. Considering selling up due to overflowing bins is preposterous. You sound like a very uptight person and a difficult person to live in close proximity to.

twopenny

Now having lived opposite neighbours who did precisely the same thing I can sympathise.

The fly and pest problem was a continuous annoyance in both my house and garden.

Are the neighbours owners of their flat too?

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

See if you can get hold of the waste officer for your area at the local council, they may visit or write to them regarding the lack of recycling. Some councils will eventually take enforcement action.

Who owns the land they are leaving rubbish on? 

Where we live there is a general waste bin and 3 bins for mixed recycling, people will dump piles of newspaper or glass bottles in the general waste bin rather than the mixed recycling bin right blooming next to it.

Unfortunately some people are just bone idle.

wannalot

KimJongUn88 said:

You need to relax. Considering selling up due to overflowing bins is preposterous. You sound like a very uptight person and a difficult person to live in close proximity to.

So you think it’s unreasonable to resent having to clean up a mess I haven’t created? 

I’ve lived here for 20 years, and never had any problems with neighbours or litter until recently.

wannalot

twopenny said:

Now having lived opposite neighbours who did precisely the same thing I can sympathise.

The fly and pest problem was a continuous annoyance in both my house and garden.

Are the neighbours owners of their flat too?

Thanks for replying! No my neighbours rent from a local housing association. 

I really don’t like the idea of complaining but the thought of vermin freaks me out, and the bags are clearly being torn open by something.

ka7e

Definitely complain - your Council website will probably have a link or phone number to report to waste disposal services. It's a health hazard and anti-social behaviour. The teams in my area won't take rubbish that isn't actually in the bin, though if you have a child in nappies, you can get 2 bins. They tag boxes and bins that have not been sorted and it's logged by the staff. I assume repeat offenders get a visit from the Council.

Jeepers_Creepers

Hi Wannalot.

Of course it's bludy annoying! It's lazy, thoughtless, irresponsible, unsightly, inconsiderate, unhealthy, anti-social. Very much like a certain North Korean dictator, then.

You've done the right thing in first approaching the neighbour involved. That's giving them a fair chance to understand what they are doing is wrong, has consequences, and they should put it right. It worked once, but sadly failed to have any ongoing effect. So, they are completely out of order. Yes, absolutely, report them to the Council. Yours won't be the first complaint of its type the council will have received! I'd hope they'll have some trained folk there who'll adopt the correct approach - calm but assertive, and ultimately with consequences.

Keep in reserve contacting the HA (they must have rules and guidelines on what is expected of their tenants, like any LL?).

If the neighb says anything afterwards - an accusatory "Was it you...?!", don't shirk. Stop, look them in the eye, and just say as calmly as you can "Yes. Of course. What do you expect? You gave me no choice. We should all do our bit to keep the place clean, shouldn't we?" Smile, walk away.

Rdwill

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/household-waste-bins-when-and-how-councils-may-issue-fixed-penalties

Councils can and do fine for not recycling. I think Wales are particularly tough on this.

grumbler

ka7e said:

Definitely complain - your Council website will probably have a link or phone number to report to waste disposal services. It's a health hazard and anti-social behaviour.

In the first place, it's collecting general waste once in three weeks that is a health hazard and anti-social behaviour. Especially in summer. It's two weeks where I live and that's too much IMO.

FaceHead

Where I live, if you are a big family - no clear definition - you can get a bigger wheelie bin. Does this happen in your area?

Who is your local authority? That specific might help people give more specific input.