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Oct 20, 2024

Waste expert shares 5 ‘big’ reasons why your wheelie bin doesn’t get emptied on bin day | Express.co.uk

Not having your wheelie bin emptied can be irritating, especially if the collection is only once every couple of weeks. To help prevent this from happening again, Paul Jackson, a waste expert from NRC

Not having your wheelie bin emptied can be irritating, especially if the collection is only once every couple of weeks.

To help prevent this from happening again, Paul Jackson, a waste expert from NRC Business Waste, has shared five reasons why that may have been the case.

The expert explained: “Leaving your wheelie bin lid open or not fully closed may seem trivial, but it leads to waste being blown out in windy conditions, attracting local nuisance wildlife like rats, foxes and seagulls.

“Not only can this affect the visual appeal of your area, it can spread diseases from wildlife to pets and their owners.”

A “big reason” why they may also not be collected is because councils often use collection trucks with automated lifting systems whereby the lid needs to be closed.

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If the wheelie bin isn’t easily accessible, it may be left full. This includes obstacles like skips, parked cars and roadworks.

The expert added: “This can cause delays in waste pickup, raise costs, and pose environmental and public health risks.

“When you put your bin out for bin day, be conscious about where you place it, keeping accessibility in mind and making your bin men’s job easier.”

Another reason which may be slightly more obvious is severe weather conditions such as snow, ice and flooding which can have a major impact on bin collections.

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Snow and ice might freeze bins as well as make it harder for bin men to access certain roads.

The waste pro continued: “Mixing non-recyclable materials into recycling bins contaminates the recycling truck’s load. This could lead to the entire load being considered contaminated and sent entirely to landfill.

“Similarly, non-recyclables can cause mechanical problems at recycling facilities like clogs or damage to sorting equipment, leading to operational inefficiencies.

“To prevent this, waste management companies and councils might just choose not to empty bins that contain visible non-recyclables to avoid contaminating the rest of the load with potentially damaging materials.

“This acts as a deterrent and encourages residents to sort their waste properly for collection day.”

Lastly, if your bin is too heavy, it may be left full. The expert said waste collection staff are discouraged from handling overly heavy wheelie bins as it can lead to injury and deterioration of their physical health over time.

These injuries may result in staff having to take time off from work. The pro noted: “Similarly, bins over the weight limit can overburden the mechanical parts of the collection vehicles, leading to more frequent repairs and potentially disrupting service schedules.”