A refuse collector known as The No 1 Binman has warned households not to hide their food waste bin on collection day, saying crews may miss it if it is not easily visible.
The advice comes from a council worker turned influencer who shares tips about household waste and recycling. He has amassed more than 200,000 followers and nearly four million likes on social media.
Visibility is key
In a video, he explained that visibility was one of his key tips for making sure a food waste bin is spotted by the collection crew. "Number one, tip number one, make sure the bin men can see it," the refuse worker advised. "Don't hide it behind a wall, make sure the big men can see it when they're walking down the road, easily visible."
He added: "It'll get collected and you ain't got to worry about it. Collect it weekly, you don't want it outside your house for two, three weeks because it smells."
Council rules vary
Official collection arrangements can vary between councils, but food waste is increasingly being collected separately across the UK. In England, Defra says household food waste collections must be provided weekly under the Simpler Recycling system, subject to transitional arrangements for some authorities.
Council instructions can also specify exactly where and when containers should be presented. Anglesey County Council, for example, tells residents to put their food waste bin at the kerbside by 7am on collection day, while Carmarthenshire County Council similarly tells residents to put food bins out well before the stated collection time.
Practical reasons for proper storage
There is also a practical reason for not leaving food waste sitting around unnecessarily. Defra guidance says food waste should be stored in suitable, sealable containers and managed to avoid attracting pests, while Carmarthenshire advises residents to keep the lid on their food bin.
For households using a food caddy, councils generally recommend transferring food scraps into the outdoor collection container according to their local rules. Carmarthenshire says its food waste service accepts items including food scraps, meat and fish, bones, pet food, eggshells, tea bags and coffee grounds, although residents are told to check the council's own guidance.
The No 1 Binman's message is therefore fairly simple - make the container easy for the collection crew to spot. Local authority rules remain the final word, so residents should check their council's instructions for where their food waste bin should be placed and when it needs to be presented.
