A binman with a large social media following has shared a tip for households whose recycling bins are often full: contact the local council and ask for another bin.
The No1 Binman, who has more than 200,000 followers and nearly four million likes on TikTok, regularly posts about what happens on bin rounds. In a recent video, he said councils may be willing to provide another recycling bin for residents who regularly produce large amounts of recyclable waste.
What the binman advised
He suggested residents tell their council that their recycling bin keeps becoming full and ask what to do with the extra recycling. He said some authorities may respond by providing another bin, particularly when the household is correctly separating recyclable material from general rubbish.
He stressed that this is not a guarantee, saying the approach applies to “most councils, not all councils”. His advice was based on the idea that councils want households to recycle as much as possible rather than putting recyclable material into residual waste.
Local rules vary
There is no nationwide entitlement to an extra wheelie bin. GOV.UK directs residents to contact their local council when they need a recycling bin, meaning arrangements are decided locally.
Some councils do allow households to request additional recycling capacity. Southwark Council says residents can order an extra recycling wheelie bin if they cannot fit all their recycling into the one provided regularly. Salford City Council also allows residents to request extra recycling bins free of charge. Coventry Council says additional recycling bins can be provided free where the authority is satisfied that residents are making reasonable efforts to recycle and compost.
Other authorities have different rules, including charges or assessments before an additional container is approved. Cheshire East currently offers additional recycling bins for a charge, while Ashford Borough Council says extra bins are only considered in specific circumstances.
What to do if your bin is full
The binman also suggested taking excess recycling to a household recycling centre as another option if an additional bin is not available. So if your recycling bin is constantly overflowing, it could be worth contacting your council rather than squeezing recyclable items into your general waste - but check your local authority's rules first, as a second bin is not guaranteed.
