A binman has settled the debate on what to do when your recycling bin is full to the brim. Instead of discarding items with general waste, refuse collector and self-proclaimed 'binfluencer' Ashley suggests an alternative.
Ring Your Local Council
In a TikTok video, Ashley responded to a follower who faced this issue. "If your recycling bin is constantly getting full, I suggest you ring your local council," he advised. "Most councils - but not all - will probably give you another bin for recycling."
He explained the reasoning: "It's cheaper for them to take recycling away than it is to take general waste away... so put less in your general waste bin or just take it to a recycling centre."
Why Black Bags Are Rejected
Ashley also revealed why black bin bags are frequently rejected during recycling collections, citing visibility. "We don't know what's in them... black bin bags, we can't see through them, and we're not going to open them and rummage through them," he said.
The binman warned that because collectors cannot see the contents, black bags are considered contaminated. This can result in entire bins being left behind during collection. Instead, he advised households to put recycling items in loose without any bags.
Public Response
"Put it all in loose," he added. "Do not put anything in a bag in your recycling bin because it has got a chance of being contaminated and they won't take it."
In response to Ashley's clip, one TikTok user shared: "In my local council you can have up to three tin bin and three cardboard bin. I currently have 8 bins." A second person commented: "I flatten/squash everything and ordered a second bin in case it still won't fit." While a third wrote: "This is true, I have three recycling bins."
