Bin Not Emptied Vent 15 November 2021 at 3:35PM in Praise, vent & warnings 15 replies 716 views

molerat

Today was bin day.  Bins placed at end of drive last night.  Looked out of the window this morning and all bins had moved around so they had been emptied ..... or so I thought.  Went out to bring them in, quick open the lids to check - green general bin, check - purple plastic / tin bin, tinfoil pie case stuck in bottom but OK - blue paper bin, still full.  Look around and neighbours have taken theirs in so they didn't send separate trucks for the recycling.  Strange I thought as the bin had been moved and the lock clip had been undone.  So, I phoned the council.  After pressing through several menu combinations I eventually get through to a "helpful" lady.

My paper bin has not been emptied

Name and address please and I will pass it on

What happens now ?

We have a policy of no return visits

My bin is full, what can I do ?

You can make an appointment at the recycling centre and take the waste there (Yes, we have to make an appointment to visit the dump since they spent a Covid fortune installing number plate recognition barriers so they have to justify it and you have to drive as there is no pedestrian entry)

So because you failed to do your job I have to correct it at my expense and inconvenience ?

I can put a note to collect any extra next time

Where will I keep another three weeks worth of loose bits of paper ?

I don't know

Thank you for your "help"

Now breathe

emmajones1976

molerat said:

Where will I keep another three weeks worth of loose bits of paper ?

In your main waste bin? My paper bin gets full ridiculously quickly and is only emptied once every FOUR weeks, sorry to say once its full any more paper waste goes in the general waste bin which gets emptied every two weeks, I dont feel bad about it, the council can provide me with a bigger paper bin if they want but they dont offer to do so.

Brie

Temptation is to take it to city hall/council offices and dump it all there on their front step.  which would probably get you arrested.

Practical thought.....leaving anything that might need to go into recycling at the supermarket.  Cereal boxes etc.  That's what I've seen done in Germany. (or was it Belgium??)

molerat

All 3 of ours only get emptied every 3 weeks and I did suggest the green bin !  Likely I can manage another cycle by climbing in and stomping it down.  The worst thing is the general tone of the conversation was "tough", typical of any dialogue with the council.

Brie

I have also been known to take paperwork into the office where they have massive secure recycling blue bins.  So all my old bank statements etc are neatly disposed of without me having to shred them. 

molerat

The worst problem is the typical attitude.  In my previous lives if I didn't do my job properly

Job 1 - someone could die

Job 2 - minimum of a severe talking to from the boss

Council don't do their job properly - so what !

emmajones1976

I sympathise but they would have to spend taxpayers money to send a van in your direction to empty the contents of one bin, its not very good value for money. Yes obviously it wouldnt be an issue had they done it correctly the first place, but here we are.

They wouldnt be able to do it on the same day next week as the van that day will be set up to collect general waste, or garden waste, or whatever.

Jenni_D

Have you checked with your neighbours whether their paper bins were actually emptied?

molerat

Jenni_D said:

Have you checked with your neighbours whether their paper bins were actually emptied?

Yes ........................

Jenni_D

Thanks. Just asking, as your OP says you noticed that their bins were taken in but not that you'd check if theirs had been emptied.  

IvanOpinion

This happened to us last year and we had a similar experience with our local council "help" centre.  I just started putting rubbish into whatever bin I could find space - just make sure the correct stuff is at the top when they open it.