UK households cautioned waste ‘won’t be taken’ if common item is in recycling

Putting the bins out may seem like a straightforward chore, yet it can be more complicated than you might expect, as refuse collectors can occasionally reject your waste and decline to take it away. Placing incorrect items in your recycling can create a number of issues, including rubbish being left outside your home.

To lend a helping hand, a binman known as The No1 Binman on TikTok has offered some invaluable advice that is certain to benefit many households. You may be unaware that leaving certain items in the wrong bins could land you in hot water, as collectors are within their rights to refuse bin collection if you fail to adhere to a few basic guidelines.

This is not the only thing to be mindful of when it comes to your recycling, either. Previously, a warning was also issued about food waste disposal too.

Advice from a binman

In a recent video posted online, he said: “Plastic, not all plastic is the same. Ok, so you have thin plastics, you have soft plastics, you have hard plastics, and it depends on the council which they actually take.

“Most of them just take normal bottles, or tins and stuff like that in your plastic bin. [They are] the only things they’ll take. They won’t take anything like carrier bags, black bags, they also won’t take any films.”

He added: “All that sort of stuff, it ruins the machines they send the stuff to. Every recycling centre is different, so they get told what they can take and what they can’t take, and they’re the ones who make the rules. Not the binmen.

“It’s not our choice. We just get told. So, if there are any plastics that you’re unsure about, maybe ask your council website or maybe you can ask the binmen. They might know.”

You may not be aware, but there are certain items you should never put in your recycling bin, and carrier bags are amongst them. There’s a significant reason why this regulation exists.

Can binmen reject your rubbish?

You might not know this, but refuse collectors can indeed decline to take your waste. The primary reasons they’ll do so include contaminated recycling, excessive amounts (too heavy or additional bags left beside the bin) or if the bin hasn’t been presented properly.

That said, they’re generally required to collect household waste unless there’s a legitimate reason not to. Local authorities are legally obliged to provide this service.

When they refuse collection, the reasons typically concern safety, contamination or failure to adhere to council guidelines. For instance, leaving “side waste” can present a problem.

What you may not realise is that carrier bags shouldn’t go in your household recycling bin either. While they are recyclable, you must take them to designated collection points, which are typically located at major supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and Waitrose.

These retailers provide in-store drop-off facilities for “soft plastics” including bread bags, films and pouches. If they’re discovered in your recycling waste, there’s a possibility it won’t be collected, as they can contaminate the entire load.

To find out more, visit your local council’s website to check the specific rules applicable to your area, as regulations can vary between different councils.