Neighbour not sorting recycling. How to handle?

Posted by caligula__horse@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 27 comments

I live in a converted Victorian house with three flats, all of which share the same bins. The council provides four bins (paper, mixed recycling, general waste, and compost) that are collected on a rotating basis once a week. When I moved in, only the middle flat was rented out, and I noticed the general waste bin was always overflowing with black bin bags. I took it upon myself to manage the bins, bringing them out on collection days. I soon realized that my neighbor rarely takes out the bins (only once since I moved in). Whenever I returned from a week's holiday, the bins were always overflowing. While it bothers me that my neighbor doesn't recycle and puts all their waste in the general waste bin, I had accepted the situation and continued managing the bins myself. However, after being away for the past three weeks, I returned to find the general waste bin overflowing and the compost bin filled with Sainsbury's bags and black bin bags of general waste. This made me furious. I'm unsure how to address this because a new tenant has moved into the previously unrented flat. It might be their fault, and I don't want to accuse my original neighbor unfairly. I hesitate to involve the landlord, as I don't want to create a negative impression. I'm considering faking a letter from the council to address both flats, hoping it will stop them from putting general waste in the recycling bins. How can I resolve this with minimal confrontation?

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27 Comments

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juntoalaluna@reddit

Sharing bins is annoying. Our neighbour, who is otherwise lovely, never takes them out. Don't send a fake letter from the council, thats weird and possibly could get you into trouble. Either knock on their door and talk to them, or write them a letter. Avoid it sounding like its anyones fault - the third flat moving in is ideal for this - and maybe propose a solution ("I'll put them out if I notice they aren't out when I get home on Wednesdays, it would be great if we could all do the same") If they keep doing it, talk to the landlord, no-one wants to live in rubbish.

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caligula__horse@reddit (OP)

Thank you for your input. I absolutely don't mind taking them out, I don't care if they don't want to do it at this point. I just care about it not being a further mess than it already is about recycling and respecting common living rules. The point of knocking and going to whom I think is the culprit is basically assuming it's them (which I already do) but I don't want them to feel targeted

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juntoalaluna@reddit

I mean, to some extent, who cares if they feel targeted? It's not like you've apparently ever spoken to them before. Work out a nice, non-accusatory way of saying it, if they feel ashamed, well then thats a good thing, because maybe they will start not being disgusting?

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caligula__horse@reddit (OP)

No, I have not really spoken to them. I've had so many situations in which a neighbour or a flatmate became petty after bringing up issues that I'm genuinely scared of having to live again in a place without the possibility of moving out but with horrible people doing petty things just because they know it annoys me

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MixSuspicious8816@reddit

If the council refused to collect the composting bin full of the wrong stuff it seems like the perfect opportunity to raise the issue. I think some councils will put a sticker on, with the reasons for non-collection. If they continue to fill the bins improperly and the rubbish begins to pile up, uncollected, then you need to speak to the landlord about it.

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caligula__horse@reddit (OP)

Yes, I would like to avoid getting to the point of piling, but yes I guess I'll just let it be red marked by the bin collectors and then use that as an argument as you suggested

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Milvusmilvus@reddit

Does your council have guidance on recycling etc you could print two copies of so you can refer to it when you speak to each of the other two flats? Are the bins clearly marked with what should be in them?

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caligula__horse@reddit (OP)

Yes, the guide is framed next to the common entrance door detailing what goes in each bin. The bins themselves are divided by colour and the council has printed on the front the type as well (i.e. General waste, bin colour black) The council website is really detailed about how, when and what should be thrown in each bin. The council also provided free general waste bin bags and free compost bags (no bags for paper or mixed recycling of course). At this point it's just pure ignorance, the council has done all it could do in my opinion

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sandra_nz@reddit

That sounds really frustrating. If you're not comfortable with a door knock and chat, you could write a letter (from you, not a fake council letter) to **all** residents outlining the issues you've noticed. That way you're not accusing anyone specific of doing anything wrong. Make your letter neutral in tone, simply outline the specific problems with how the rubbish/recycling has been sorted, and how it should be sorted going forward.

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caligula__horse@reddit (OP)

That sounds good. I've always had the impression from other British people I know that whatever post-it/letter would be by default taken as passive aggressive and therefore would grant petty and defensive behaviour and that's exactly what I don't want to escalate the problem

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Temporary-Zebra97@reddit

You don't have to confront them, fake council letters, or involve the landlord. Just speak to them, they may not be familiar with the recycling rules of your area, they seem to differ across the country or they may not give a shit, which in that case you can sell them on the benefits of recycling as it helps maximise the space in the general bin and avoids the bin police.

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caligula__horse@reddit (OP)

Totally fair. I believe it's 3 uni students living below me, I think it's a matter of simply not caring. Regardless you're totally right

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RedPandaReturns@reddit

I think you handle this situation by finding a hobby.

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caligula__horse@reddit (OP)

I genuinely don't want further problems with the council not collecting out bins because of the neighbours and I don't want to fish out their litter I've plenty of hobbies, we can rant about them if you have some time for that too

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RedPandaReturns@reddit

Where did you say that the council have been refusing to collect your bins?

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caligula__horse@reddit (OP)

I'm saying to you now. They have, before, because the bins are too full (the lid should shut for the bins to be collected). They put a little red tag with reason for no collection and that's it. I'm sure they will put another tag when I bring out the compost bin

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Goseki1@reddit

Man people really aren't understanding your issue. As you say some councils won't take bins if they have the wrong things in them. Talk to the neighbours first. If you get nowhere contact their landlord. If you get nowhere with them contact the council environmental team.

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caligula__horse@reddit (OP)

Thank you, I appreciate your advice, I'm just a bit unsure about talking to the neighbours I think is responsible and be wrong in accusing them of something.

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Goseki1@reddit

If you are not sure then I would just put up a little note on the main door explaining the issue. Make it polite and kind rather than shitty and passive aggressive though!

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Routine_Prune@reddit

Shit through his letter box. Fuck me man, this sub is utter drivel these days.

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Chungaroo22@reddit

Can you write to the council and ask for your own bins? I've been in a similar flat before and we always had separate bins.

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caligula__horse@reddit (OP)

I considered it, but seeing the situation I just assumed the neighbours would use my bins when theirs are full. I could absolutely buy my own at this point, but I would have to put padlocks on them to prevent the neighbours from using them as I also don't have a garage/shed where to store them. I'd certainly have to talk to the landlord about this because I'd have to keep them on the shared front garden. I think it's a nice idea but I suspect it might bring more work. As I said, I genuinely don't mind being wholly responsible of taking out the bins, washing them regularly. It's more about a respect/environment principle here

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Bierfreund_86@reddit

Back off and let them drown in their own waste. Not your circus, not your monkeys

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caligula__horse@reddit (OP)

We share the entry to the house, we share the bins, it is my bins too and my house door too hence why it is my problem too. When the bins were overflowing they were blocking access of the path to our front door. So I'd be drowning too

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7ootles@reddit

Not your problem. Take care of your own refuse and don't assume responsibility for your neighbour's.

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caligula__horse@reddit (OP)

We share bins. The bins I put out are the same with general waste in compost. It is my problem

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