A popular binman has warned households not to throw everyday electrical items into their general waste or recycling bins, explaining how to dispose of them correctly instead.
The No1 Binman, who has more than 225,000 followers and four million likes on TikTok, regularly shares tips about rubbish collections and household waste. In a recent video, he addressed whether dustmen would collect small electrical appliances such as alarm clocks and hairdryers.
Council Collections Vary
He explained that collection arrangements vary between councils, with some offering dedicated bags or boxes for smaller electrical goods. "Well, it depends on the council. If they do, they will have a special box or bag. Small devices will go in. You do not put them in your general waste bin. You do not put them in the recycling bin," he said.
The binman also warned against putting larger appliances, including microwaves and kettles, into ordinary plastic recycling bins. Instead, he recommended taking unwanted electricals to a household waste recycling centre or using an appropriate retailer recycling scheme.
Government Guidance on Electricals
"They're not recyclable within your plastic recycling bin. Some people put microwaves and kettles," the binman said. "No, do not go in there. You're meant to take them to the tip."
His warning reflects UK Government guidance, which says electrical products carrying the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol should not be disposed of with household rubbish. The Office for Product Safety and Standards advises taking unwanted electrical equipment to an appropriate collection point, where valuable materials can be recovered and recycled.
Retailer Take-Back Options
There are several options available. Many household waste recycling centres have dedicated facilities for electrical goods, while some councils offer separate collections for smaller appliances. Retailers can also help. Under UK regulations, shops selling electrical equipment must provide a free take-back option when customers purchase a replacement of the same type.
Larger retailers with electrical sales areas exceeding 400 square metres must also accept small electrical items, measuring less than 25cm, for free without requiring a purchase. B&Q, for example, accepts small electrical goods including kettles, toasters and hairdryers through its in-store recycling units.
The No1 Binman urged households to check their own council's arrangements rather than assume every area offers the same service. "Some councils, obviously, like I said, do have a bag and stuff too, but please check with your council for the best place to put them," he said.
