Putting the bins out is a job nobody really likes to do, but it'll likely feel better if you at least know where to place certain items, as simple errors can cause your rubbish to be left behind.
Placing the wrong items in your recycling can create a number of issues, and can even result in smelly rubbish being left uncollected outside your home. Not to worry though, as a binman known on TikTok as The No1 Binman has shared some expert guidance that is likely to prove invaluable to many households.
What you may not be aware of is that including certain items in your recycling waste could land you in difficulty, as collectors are within their rights to refuse collection if a few basic rules are not observed, and a certain item can cause you a problem.
What did the binman say?
In a video posted online, he said: "Plastic, not all plastic is the same. Ok, so you have thin plastics, you have soft plastics, you have hard plastics, and it depends on the council which they actually take."
"Most of them just take normal bottles, or tins and stuff like that in your plastic bin. [They are] the only things they'll take. They won't take anything like carrier bags, black bags, they also won't take any films."
"All that sort of stuff, it ruins the machines they send the stuff to. Every recycling centre is different, so they get told what they can take and what they can't take, and they're the ones who make the rules. Not the binmen."
"It's not our choice. We just get told. So, if there are any plastics that you're unsure about, maybe ask your council website or maybe you can ask the binmen. They might know."
Many people are unaware that certain items should never be placed in your recycling bin, with carrier bags being a prime example — and there is a significant reason why this rule exists.
Can binmen refuse to take your rubbish?
It may come as a surprise, but refuse collectors are within their rights to decline picking up your waste. The most common grounds for doing so include contaminated recycling, excessive amounts of waste (either too heavy or bags left beside the bin), or a bin that has not been presented correctly.
That said, collectors are generally obliged to remove household waste unless there is a legitimate reason not to, as councils have a duty to provide this service.
Where collection is refused, it typically comes down to safety concerns, contamination, or failure to comply with council guidelines — leaving "side waste" beside the bin, for instance, can be problematic.
It is also worth noting that carrier bags should not be placed in your household recycling. While they are recyclable, they must be taken to dedicated collection points, which are typically located at larger supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons and Waitrose.
These retailers provide in-store drop-off bins for "soft plastics", including bread bags, films and pouches. Should carrier bags be found in your recycling, there is a real possibility your collection will be refused, as they risk contaminating the entire load.
For more details, make sure you visit your local council's website to find out the specific rules applicable to your area. Regulations can occasionally vary from one council to another.
