garden waste in the regular bin 8 July 2022 at 2:03PM in Greenfingered MoneySaving 27 replies 1.2K views

Brie

an idle thought for you - I wonder if you could let me know what you think....

we don't have a garden waste bin.  we're not that far from the dump and if we have a quantity of prunings etc we have the time and flexibility to take it there.  But if it's just a trug or 2 of grass cuttings or rose deadheading etc it just goes in our regular bin.  I think now the vast majority of what's in a regular bin is things that will rot down.  So much goes into the recycling (bottles, plastic, as well as paper) so it's kitchen refuse, tissues, etc with an occasional plastic bag.  

I'm wondering if having what is essentially compostable material in with general waste is a good thing.  Or am I deluded?  (please be nice about telling me so!!)

No we don't have or want a composter or a kitchen food waste bin.  And don't want to pay whatever it is for the council to do a random garden waste pick up assuming we would have room for the bin.  

ka7e

If your council is OK with food waste in the normal bin, a bit of green stuff won't hurt. It either goes into landfill or is burned.The only things allowed in our bins are those marked "Non-recyclable", nappies and cat litter - everything else is collected kerbside weekly.

theoretica

What happens to waste in your area?  I know our non-recycleables goes to a heat recovery incinerator and take that into account in choosing what to put in it (eg wood scraps, pistachio shells). 

molerat

Any compostable waste should not really be put in the general waste as in landfill it breaks down anaerobically and is a source of greenhouse gas, when composted it does not produce harmful gasses.  Many short sighted councils are charging for garden waste collection which is adding to landfill tax and greenhouse gas.  In our street just about everyone used to put the brown bin out every 2 weeks, since they started charging less than half the street put the bin out - where is all that waste now going ? Plus to dispose of waste at the recycling centre you need to book a slot by vehicle reg no in advance - wrong reg no entry via the expensive ANPR barrier they installed - and they wonder why fly tipping is on the increase !

Norman_Castle

I'd expect compostable is much better than non compostable but the issue for the council will be the cost of disposal. Landfill or other methods will be costed by weight so you're adding a cost to the council and council tax payers by not disposing of it elsewhere.

If landfilled it will also increase how quickly a site is filled requiring further sites to be opened sooner.

molerat

ka7e said:

If your council is OK with food waste in the normal bin, a bit of green stuff won't hurt. It either goes into landfill or is burned.The only things allowed in our bins are those marked "Non-recyclable", nappies and cat litter - everything else is collected kerbside weekly.

There is nothing for the council to be OK about or otherwise, as a private householder the only rules are about what cannot go in the specific purpose recycling bins, general waste bin is anything goes.  Businesses though must recycle.

Norman_Castle

molerat said:

ka7e said:

If your council is OK with food waste in the normal bin, a bit of green stuff won't hurt. It either goes into landfill or is burned.The only things allowed in our bins are those marked "Non-recyclable", nappies and cat litter - everything else is collected kerbside weekly.

There is nothing for the council to be OK about or otherwise, as a private householder the only rules are about what cannot go in the specific purpose recycling bins, general waste bin is anything goes. 

Is asbestos ok?

I expect different councils may have different rules, this says you cannot put garden waste in a general waste bin.

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20009/waste_and_recycling/105/what_goes_in_my_bins/2

This says liquid paint is banned from landfill so unless you know the final destination of your waste it shouldn't be put in a general waste bin. https://www.divert.co.uk/the-divert-guide-to-paint-tin-disposal/

Martin_the_Unjust

Our garden waste bin now costs £40 a year so now what won’t fit in the composters goes in the general waste bin.

molerat

Norman_Castle said:

molerat said:

ka7e said:

If your council is OK with food waste in the normal bin, a bit of green stuff won't hurt. It either goes into landfill or is burned.The only things allowed in our bins are those marked "Non-recyclable", nappies and cat litter - everything else is collected kerbside weekly.

There is nothing for the council to be OK about or otherwise, as a private householder the only rules are about what cannot go in the specific purpose recycling bins, general waste bin is anything goes. 

Is asbestos ok?

I expect different councils may have different rules, this says you cannot put garden waste in a general waste bin.

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20009/waste_and_recycling/105/what_goes_in_my_bins/2

This says liquid paint is banned from landfill so unless you know the final destination of your waste it shouldn't be put in a general waste bin. https://www.divert.co.uk/the-divert-guide-to-paint-tin-disposal/

You would be pretty hard pushed to find any legislation that covers private householders

Norman_Castle

molerat said:

Norman_Castle said:

molerat said:

ka7e said:

If your council is OK with food waste in the normal bin, a bit of green stuff won't hurt. It either goes into landfill or is burned.The only things allowed in our bins are those marked "Non-recyclable", nappies and cat litter - everything else is collected kerbside weekly.

There is nothing for the council to be OK about or otherwise, as a private householder the only rules are about what cannot go in the specific purpose recycling bins, general waste bin is anything goes. 

Is asbestos ok?

I expect different councils may have different rules, this says you cannot put garden waste in a general waste bin.

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20009/waste_and_recycling/105/what_goes_in_my_bins/2

This says liquid paint is banned from landfill so unless you know the final destination of your waste it shouldn't be put in a general waste bin. https://www.divert.co.uk/the-divert-guide-to-paint-tin-disposal/

You would be pretty hard pushed to find any legislation that covers private householders

You'll struggle to find legislation stating a council is obliged to empty a general waste bin regardless of its contents. Councils have rules stating what should and shouldn't be in a bin. If they don't like the contents they can refuse to empty a bin.

There's a big difference between what should be in a bin and what you might get away with sneaking into a bin.

Farway

Norman_Castle said:

molerat said:

Norman_Castle said:

molerat said:

ka7e said:

If your council is OK with food waste in the normal bin, a bit of green stuff won't hurt. It either goes into landfill or is burned.The only things allowed in our bins are those marked "Non-recyclable", nappies and cat litter - everything else is collected kerbside weekly.

There is nothing for the council to be OK about or otherwise, as a private householder the only rules are about what cannot go in the specific purpose recycling bins, general waste bin is anything goes. 

Is asbestos ok?

I expect different councils may have different rules, this says you cannot put garden waste in a general waste bin.

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20009/waste_and_recycling/105/what_goes_in_my_bins/2

This says liquid paint is banned from landfill so unless you know the final destination of your waste it shouldn't be put in a general waste bin. https://www.divert.co.uk/the-divert-guide-to-paint-tin-disposal/

You would be pretty hard pushed to find any legislation that covers private householders

You'll struggle to find legislation stating a council is obliged to empty a general waste bin regardless of its contents. Councils have rules stating what should and shouldn't be in a bin. If they don't like the contents they can refuse to empty a bin.

There's a big difference between what should be in a bin and what you might get away with sneaking into a bin.

Ours do not allow garden waste in the general bin, bin men check before emptying and will leave it un-emptied with a stick on note why left full

Council charges £70 per year for a garden waste wheelie bin and there is a waiting list to get on this service, to rub salt in we have to also buy the bin