A binman has urged households to stop placing three common items in their recycling if they want their waste to be taken away. Making simple mistakes can cause rubbish to be left behind.
Putting the rubbish out for collection is something we all have to do every week; however, if your waste isn't being collected, you're likely making a mistake and causing it to be left behind. A binman previously shared some of the items you need to stop placing in your recycling if you want to ensure your bins get taken away every time, as failing to do the job correctly can lead to a lot of unwanted rubbish being left at your property.
The binman, who's known as The No 1 Binman on TikTok, has shared a lot of expert advice in the past to help people carry out the task effectively. However, as Recycle Week takes place in the UK from September 14 to September 20, it seems a good time to remind people of what they need to do.
It's not the only time such handy advice has been shared either. Previously, it was revealed how you should really dispose of used cooking oil.
What should you avoid?
There are three items you should stop placing in your recycling bin, and there are reasons why too. It's common for people to get confused about them, but he explained what action people should be taking.
In a previous video, he said: "Crisp packets do not belong in your recycling bin. You're meant to take them to the supermarket and recycle them there, because it's a different type of plastic."
"Just like carrier bags, just like film, bubble wrap - all that stuff does not go in your recycling. Take it to the tip, they can sometimes dispose of it there differently, or take it to a supermarket."
"There's loads of stuff. Polystyrene, plastic, but it doesn't go in your recycling bin, because it takes up too much room and it costs too much money to recycle because there's barely any plastic in it. It's mainly air."
"Please check before you put it in your bin. Normally, it's like tins and bottles. Easy things to put in the recycling."
"Please check before you do it because you don't want your bin to be contaminated. Don't be the person who gets their bin rejected when you want it to be emptied."
Why is it important?
You may not realise this, but binmen have the ability to, and often do, refuse to collect people's rubbish. This can happen if bags contain incorrect items.
As well as refusing to take contaminated waste, they can refuse to take rubbish that is considered too heavy, or if there's "side waste", which means additional bags or items are placed beside the bin. When waste is contaminated, it can ruin entire loads and cause damage to sorting facilities.
Therefore, placing items in the wrong bins can result in rubbish being left uncollected or marked for correction. This is precisely why it's crucial to get it right; otherwise, you may find rubbish starts to pile up at your home.
In most areas, you cannot recycle crisp packets in your household waste. Instead, you should take clean crisp packets to local major supermarkets that feature flexible soft-plastic recycling collection bins near the entrance.
Carrier bags and bubble wrap must also be recycled in the same way. Visit your nearest drop-off point, and ensure they collect the items.
These are the three common items you need to avoid putting in your recycling waste. If you're ever unsure about what you can recycle, visit your local council's website for advice, as sometimes rules can differ between areas.
