The Bin Thread

Trooper · **Joined:** 4th Mar, 2010 **Posts:** 22422

I bet it's pronounced like hanger, because the north.

We are on a new bin system, general waste every 3 weeks, recycling every 2, food every week.
I have no idea what bin goes out when anymore.

In positive news, the recycling is now just dumped into the truck, rather than sorted on the doorstep. So no more of them chucking random shit in the bush that they decide can't be recycled that week.

Grim... · **Posted:** Thu Aug 11, 2022 16:59

Every three weeks?! That's harsh.

Trooper · **Joined:** 4th Mar, 2010 **Posts:** 22422

It's very annoying, however the recycling basically takes everything other than plastic film now, so it should be ok.

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38803

Sir Taxalot · **Joined:** 5th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 4957

The hero we need

Joans · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 8663

We could have done with one of those this week as we had some "exciting" bin controversy.
While I was fairly sure it was normal bins this week, three people had already put their recycling bins out, and as I'm not popular enough to be different, I bowed to peer pressure and put the recycling bin out.
Fortunately our neighbour came round to clarify it was definitely normal bins and he'd checked with his dad who lived round the corner. He then proceeded to send me an image from his CCTV last week showing his recycling bin.

Who knew life would get this exciting.

Trooper · **Joined:** 4th Mar, 2010 **Posts:** 22422

Our day has changed from wednesday to thursday, you can imagine the havoc this has caused.

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 26476

The council Twitter account has been wall to wall photos of the mayor grieving at various picture opportunities next to books of condolence to say we’d have a bin change this week, so our garden waste bins were not picked up Tuesday as the entire road expected, so most stayed out there until they were emptied yesterday morning. The few that moved their bins back in on Tuesday/Wednesday missed having them emptied, so I bet they’re feeling foolish and/or annoyed.

Kern · **Posted:** Wed Nov 16, 2022 8:54

Superb bin content in the Guardian today:

"Who remembers proper binmen?" The nostalgia memes that help explain Britain today

Using bin memes as an example, Dan Hancox discusses the rise of nostalgia pages on sinister Facebook and elsewhere, and what it means for British politics. Well worth a read.

Giphy "bins!":
https://media2.giphy.com/media/hqliRfysiaPRqTMYhS/giphy-loop.mp4

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38803

Top content.

Nostalgia porn at it's best

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 26476

I read that yesterday and it touched upon some of my absolute pet hates. The ‘didn’t we have it tough! But we still survived!’ memes. I think the thing that always pisses me off about it is the line about ‘we just rode our bikes along the street, no helmets, and played football along the road without our parents worrying about us’ because the people that post that are the boomer generation that filled those same streets with so many cars that kids then couldn’t just sit in the street and play. Dickheads.

Sir Taxalot · **Joined:** 5th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 4957

I'm reading that article now, I was born in 1980 and I remember bin men but I don't recall them being all that friendly... I seem to remember they'd delight in driving past if dad hadn't put the bin bags out for collection quite in time - no waiting if they saw him coming out the gate laden with bags, too late mate.

Quote:

“In our day, you only had Lucozade when you were ill.”

This was true in our house when we were young, with the glass bottles and the crinkly orange plastic wrap.

Sir Taxalot · **Joined:** 5th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 4957

I do like a bit of Good Nostalgia (as opposed to Bad Nostalgia, obviously), but that article made me feel a bit annoyed actually.

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16720

I remember before we got wheelie bins everyone would put the bags out and the streets would be absolutely covered in rubbish after the seagulls had torn them apart. This was when seagulls were proper men though, not like the ones you get now.

This exact kind of dozy, sentimental nostalgia tinged with bitter resentment for any kind of progress is hardly anything new is it? the only thing new is the internet giving them all somewhere to coalesce.

Kern · **Posted:** Thu Nov 17, 2022 9:56

markg wrote:

This exact kind of dozy, sentimental nostalgia tinged with bitter resentment for any kind of progress is hardly anything new is it? the only thing new is the internet giving them all somewhere to coalesce.

Yes, I think most of it is just the same kind of performative comment you would give during a pub conversation then forget about it. Very much like how at school and university, everyone would claim to be massively behind and doing no work.

Sir Taxalot · **Joined:** 5th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 4957

Performative comment is an interesting term/concept. I see that sort of behaviour at the workplace but haven't really had a label for it until now.

I didn't do much work at uni, to be honest. I went to most lectures and took notes but rarely studied outside of that. And ivd leave assignments right til the last moment.

Kern · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2022 9:05

Bin day and my bin is frozen shut.
Will try to open it again later once it's warmed up slightly. Here's hoping for a late collection.

GazChap · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2022 9:36

Should just be able to pour water out of the kettle (not even boiled) on to the parts where the lid joins the base, I had to do that the other day.

Kern · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2022 9:47

GazChap wrote:

Should just be able to pour water out of the kettle (not even boiled) on to the parts where the lid joins the base, I had to do that the other day.

Good one, thanks!

As it's not made of glass, no risk of shattering it!

GazChap · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2022 10:35

Very little risk of shattering glass unless you're using freshly boiled water, or water that was boiled not too long ago.

I don't need to do it any more now that the Leaf can warm itself up remotely, but I used to just take the water straight from the kettle (before it had been boiled first thing in the morning) and pour that over the windscreen.

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16720

GazChap wrote:

Very little risk of shattering glass unless you're using freshly boiled water, or water that was boiled not too long ago.

I don't need to do it any more now that the Leaf can warm itself up remotely, but I used to just take the water straight from the kettle (before it had been boiled first thing in the morning) and pour that over the windscreen.

Yeah, it doesn't even need to be hot, just slightly warm water from the tap will do it, get the engine running to get some heat started then pour some water to unstick them then switch the wipers on and keep pouring until it's clear and dry, also hit the washer jets with some to get them going too. Always found this easier than pissing around with scrapers/anti freeze.

I watched a YouTube video where some blokes were pouring boiling hot water on screens and even that didn't shatter or crack them. Definitely not having to bother with any of this is one of the best things about the Leaf though. Such a good little runabout that thing.

GazChap · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2022 12:34

Yeah, it's especially handy that I can just shout out "Alexa, tell my Leaf to warm up!" so I don't even have to faff about with apps and shit any more.

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2023 13:43

Live updates as road closed after bin lorry catches fire

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38803

That's a big pile of rubbish!

MaliA · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2023 11:23

Got the Christmas tree out through the garden waste bin..super skills.

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16720

Do your binmen not take whole Christmas trees then?

MaliA · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2023 11:33

Part of me thinks they don't. I cut it up into small bits.

Sir Taxalot · **Joined:** 5th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 4957

We went away and had some youngsters house-sit and look after the animals.

Everything is for the most part just fine BUT they forgot to put out the red general waste bin on Friday

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 26476

Your bin is red? Up towards Wednesbury and Wolverhampton they have bright purple bins, and part of me thinks 'purple is a nice colour' though to be honest I'm not actually keen on purple, but it's better than grey, but the other half of me wonders why they want to draw attention to their bins, as when you're going by it's often the most noticeable thing outside the houses, so you just see bin, bin, bin, bin, so on balance I think the grey/brown/green bins that are in most places are for the best.

TheVision · **Posted:** Tue Jan 24, 2023 11:17

This reminds me of a bin story. A few years ago, Dudley council advertised the fact that the whole borough would be getting grey bins for their rubbish to replace the bin bags they previously had. Loads of money went into the marketing of the grey bins and everyone was really excited.

When the bins actually turned up from the manufacturers, they were black. Not wanting to look stupid, the graphic designers at Dudley council were told to photoshop the colour of the bins in all the photo's sent to the press, to make them appear grey.

To this day the bins are still referred to as 'grey bins' in any communication from the council despite being very black.

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 26476

How daft!

Now that you've said it, I'm not sure if our grey bins are actually grey, or black. I'm pretty sure they are grey, but it is foggy out and I can't see any about from the window as they are generally tucked down the sides of houses and out of sight here.

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16720

TheVision wrote:

This reminds me of a bin story. A few years ago, Dudley council advertised the fact that the whole borough would be getting grey bins for their rubbish to replace the bin bags they previously had. Loads of money went into the marketing of the grey bins and everyone was really excited.

When the bins actually turned up from the manufacturers, they were black. Not wanting to look stupid, the graphic designers at Dudley council were told to photoshop the colour of the bins in all the photo's sent to the press, to make them appear grey.

To this day the bins are still referred to as 'grey bins' in any communication from the council despite being very black.

Ours started off black but they're pretty grey now, maybe the council were just playing the long game.

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5578

Our brown bin for garden waste will cost £50 this year, and we put it out no more than 2 or 3 times.
I’m telling them not to renew, but I bet if I hide it when they come to collect they won’t follow up on it properly.

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5578

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

Our brown bin for garden waste will cost £50 this year, and we put it out no more than 2 or 3 times.
I’m telling them not to renew, but I bet if I hide it when they come to collect they won’t follow up on it properly.

So far so good on this plan. Brown bin still in play.

I've also jet washed the recycling bin for the first time in a couple of years. Much biohazard!!!

TheVision · **Posted:** Sun Jun 11, 2023 20:27

The worst thing imaginable has happened... One of my neighbours has put my bin out at the end of my drive BUT... I haven't actually filled it yet this week! This could start a turf war if they see me bringing it back to the garage. What a calamity! I'm just going to have to go to the tip in the week I think.

Warhead · Noob as of 6/8/10

Much excitement in the Warhead household. We have a new GreenNT bin. To the council, it's just a bin, but to me it's an NT version. Look at the vents to allow any build up of noxious gasses to escape. What a fab innovation.

Attachment:

bin NT.jpeg

For the full, torturous story of how we achieved this, click on the reveal.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

Our green food and garden waste bin has been getting more and more knackered for ages. The lid was split and there was also a split down one of the corners in the body. I'd tried using heavy duty tape to stop the rot, but that only lasts for so long.

Mrs. W decided it was time to ask for a replacement and also to remove old small brown and blue bins that had never been removed when new, bigger ones were issued several years ago. She logged three calls with the council, and was issued with job numbers. The work was expected to be completed within 5 working days and the old bins to be left 'close to the perimeter of your property.' We left them in the front garden, close to the gates, which we left open. This was a mistake. 5 working days elapsed and no collection/delivery took place. We checked the job numbers on the Manchester.gov website, only to see that they were showing as 'complete.'

We tried calling them, but just got a recorded message telling us to report problems on the website, which we did. We got an auto reply to that, saying that they were very busy and it could take up to 15 days to get a response. When the response arrived, after around 5 days, it said they'd sent the team out to replace them, but as they were not left OUTSIDE the property, they hadn't been able to complete the work. To cover their backs in case of complaint, one of the staff had taken a photo to show the bins were still in the garden. It also said that we should call them to arrange another collection. When we rang, the recorded message said to log new jobs on the website, which we did. We also left the bins on the pavement as we didn't know when they were going to turn up, although it should be in 5 working days, again.

They turned up at 6am today, waking me up as they bashed the bins around, so I rushed out In my Jim-jams to bring them into the garden to prevent any jealous early risers to run off with the new green one.

We're so relieved. We've been storing our filled food recycling bags in our secondary freezer to stop them turning nasty and putting them in one of our neighbour's bins, with their agreement, if there was space on collection days.

Sir Taxalot · **Joined:** 5th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 4957

Those vents and curves give it a modern and performance feel. A sports-style bin.

Squirt · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6652

Some scallywag appears to have stolen my Mum's garden waste bin. She is busy writing letters to the council, the FBI and INTERPOL.

Warhead · Noob as of 6/8/10

Sir Taxalot wrote:

Those vents and curves give it a modern and performance feel. A sports-style bin.

Yes, but it's slightly let down by the finishing on the edges in some places, which could cause minor injuries to the unwary.

Sir Taxalot · **Joined:** 5th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 4957

Oh ouch, yes I see that now. I was so distracted by the vent.

Perhaps smoothing the edges should be one of the first mods you plan for that bad boy, give it that hella flush look eh?

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 26476

BIG NEWS DAY

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn48e35pe2go

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5578

I used to pay for garden waste collections but when the price increased it wasn’t worth paying for the service to only use it two or three times a year.

They told me to leave then bin for collection but when I forgot they didn’t do anything else, so I just carried on using it as normal.

All good, but my council is having to replace their end of life bin wagons with new ones that use different bins so my freeloading will have to stop. I’ll just have to take the garden waste to Mimi’s house instead.

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 26476

Haha, the more the merrier. We struggle to fit all we have into our garden bin, even though we compost for the most part, because we have a large garden. It definitely makes a difference having the service for us, though. We still have to do frequent tip runs with the garden waste when we are trimming hedges and so on, and sometimes have had to commandeer next door’s garden bin to manage (with her blessing — she’s gardening adverse, so her brown bin space is generally free).

Warhead · Noob as of 6/8/10

Trafford Council - Garden waste subscription information

Some residents in Trafford have been going into meltdown on Nexdoor and Facebook as their council are starting to charge for garden waste collection. A lot of people didn't read the all the details, so they've been exploding for the wrong reasons. Firstly, the charge is only for garden waste and residents can opt out of that if they don't have a garden or get rid of the waste themselves. Food waste will still be collected, free of charge. It's £45 per year if paid on-line, or £50 if paid by other means. If you pay, you get a label to stick on the bin so the bin collectors know that you've paid and will empty the bin if it has garden waste in it. No label, no emptying of bin if it does have garden waste in it.

We're in Manchester, not Trafford, and as far as I know we still don't pay separately for garden waste to be removed, but I'd be surprised if they don't start charging in the near future.

The main complainers seem to be Tory voters who have been very vocal since Labour took control at the last election and there's one particular complainer who posts misinformation and demands for the council to be ousted because they are 'not fit for purpose.' Any time someone calls him out on his bullshit, he bans them from commenting on his Nextdoor postings.

JBR · **Joined:** 2nd Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 3339

The bins in East Herts are changing - reinstituting a compost collection, adding a couple of bins. I was amazed at the complaints, particularly the 'we're paying more for less'! Which isn't strictly true, given they'll collect more. But also: have you seen the entire world, over the last couple of years? Yes, you are paying more. Anyway, I mentioned in passing as a laugh to the team after junior parkrun, and they joined straight in with their complaints. Apparently I am alone in shrugging and going thinking yep, right you are then.

Warhead · Noob as of 6/8/10

JBR wrote:

The bins in East Herts are changing - reinstituting a compost collection, adding a couple of bins. I was amazed at the complaints, particularly the 'we're paying more for less'! Which isn't strictly true, given they'll collect more. But also: have you seen the entire world, over the last couple of years? Yes, you are paying more. Anyway, I mentioned in passing as a laugh to the team after junior parkrun, and they joined straight in with their complaints. Apparently I am alone in shrugging and going thinking yep, right you are then.

Bins and cycle lanes. Subjects guaranteed to divide opinion. Oh, and fly tipping.

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12367

Warhead wrote:

JBR wrote:

The bins in East Herts are changing - reinstituting a compost collection, adding a couple of bins. I was amazed at the complaints, particularly the 'we're paying more for less'! Which isn't strictly true, given they'll collect more. But also: have you seen the entire world, over the last couple of years? Yes, you are paying more. Anyway, I mentioned in passing as a laugh to the team after junior parkrun, and they joined straight in with their complaints. Apparently I am alone in shrugging and going thinking yep, right you are then.

Bins and cycle lanes. Subjects guaranteed to divide opinion. Oh, and fly tipping.

Who's FOR fly-tipping?

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38803

Like Cow tipping, but smaller scale

Kern · **Posted:** Thu Mar 27, 2025 12:21

Warhead wrote:

Bins and cycle lanes. Subjects guaranteed to divide opinion. Oh, and fly tipping.

LTNs.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Thu Mar 27, 2025 13:51

That vented bin looks sweet.

Be Excellent To Each Other

The Bin Thread

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