A refuse collector known online as a 'binfluencer' has advised UK households to contact their local council if their recycling bin becomes full before collection day. Ashley, who shares advice on rubbish-related matters, said in a TikTok video that most councils will provide an additional recycling bin if requested.
Councils Often Provide Extra Bins
Ashley recommended: "If your recycling bin is constantly getting full, I suggest you ring your local council. Most councils - but not all - will probably give you another bin for recycling." He explained that it is cheaper for councils to collect recycling than general waste, so residents should put less in their general waste bin or take excess items to a recycling centre.
He concluded: "Well done for filling your recycling bin up - correctly I'm hoping. You'll probably get given another bin and then it is problem solved. What more do you want?"
Black Bags Can Lead to Rejected Collections
Ashley also explained why black bin bags are often rejected during recycling collections. "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. Because collectors cannot see the contents, black bags are deemed contaminated, which can result in entire bins being left uncollected.
He urged households to place recycling items loosely in the bin without using black bags. "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."
Viewers Share Their Experiences
In response to Ashley's clip, one TikTok user commented: "In my local council you can have up to three tin bin and three cardboard bin. I currently have 8 bins." Another said: "I flatten/squash everything and ordered a second bin in case it still won't fit." A third added: "This is true, I have three recycling bins."
