Neighbour being cheeky? Or AIBU?

This honestly wouldn’t bother me if it didn’t impact my own use of the bin, but then we’re also the neighbours that offer to take stuff to the tip for the family next door if we’re doing a tip run and have space in the car 🤷‍♀️

I think I'd do it but make a joke like 'you owe me a coffee and a cake/couple of glasses of wine.' Because tbh if my neighbour bought me the odd coffee or glass of wine, that would be fine by me to use the bin once every month or two, provided I hadn't filled it up already.

See this ⬇

There was one occasion last summer where I had done both my lawns during the week and he then did both his at the weekend, the bin had only just been collected so it was full for another week until the next collection and I was unable to use it. I was just worried this might start to happen now that it’s summer.

This is going to happen more and more - he might ask if he can put grass cuttings in, but you mention that he also puts other stuff in there (without asking) and on at least this one occasion you could not use your own bin that you pay for.

At the very least, if this happens again, I would let him know that you couldn't use your own bin. Whatever you do don't suggest he pays half or it will always be full of his stuff because he's paid for it. I just think too, he wouldn't be being this cheeky if you were a man - and I don't think a man would have put up with it for this long either.

Believe me, if you say nothing, he will just get cheekier - why would he not?

I would say to him please can you wait until the day before collection to see whether your bin is full, and if there is space then he can use it. We had to pay for a while before rhe council changed their mind. I think it was £38 a year - I wouldn't ask a neighbour to split that, you never know when you might need a favour in return, but they shouldn't use it until your gardening is done for that collection period.

I imagine it’s easier to spot contamination in the recycling than the general waste as it would be all bagged up amongst all sorts of crap

There is space so no issue. Seems pointless to have 2 bins. If you have to say anything you could offer to split costs and share the bin.

Rother District Council specifically forbid 'Garden waste' either in the general household rubbish bin, or the green recycling bin, each of which are emptied once a fortnight. They also have rules about the additional garden waste subscription and what is and isn't allowed in there. All documented on their
What Can I Put In My Bins page.

I've never lived anywhere that will remove garden waste put in the other bins since the introduction of the garden waste subscriptions and they're extremely hard on what they'll take from recycling as well, stickering with big dayglo 'CONTAMINATED' stickers and leaving the lot if you transgress.

Asking to put his grass clippings in your bin every couple of months doesn't seem much BUT our garden waste collection has gone up from £76 last year to £120 this year! Why should I pay that when someone else who uses the service (through me) doesn't? I know it doesn't seem very neighbourly but I don't think he's fair putting you in that position.

We are and have been kind to neighbours over the years - I just wouldn't like the expectation element of it. Sorry if this seems mean spirited.

Some of the mealy mouthed comments on here... No wonder the human race is fucked if you can't even let someone use your bin. My neighbour uses mine as they've a bigger family and create more rubbish. I would never have said no if I had the space, it's just mean

#4 is not okay, and he needs to be told if he does this again.

Suggest he shares the cost. Its cheeky. One off ok. On a regular basis not ok. Or fill it up if you can so there is no room for his stuff, too cheeky.

You don't use your full bin capacity so it's no skin off your nose at all. I'd definitely keep doing it on the (unspoken) understanding that you've got a neighbourly relationship and if you needed a favour he'd reciprocate. See how it goes.

Consider buying something, say renting a storage locker. It costs you £100 per year to rent this (plucking a figure out of the sky here).
Your neighbour needs to store something and is aware that you have a storage locker. You have the space to store whatever your neighbour needs stored.
Remember that you are the one being charged the rental fee here - not your neighbour and your neighbour has no intention of contributing to the rental of said storage locker even if their belongings are stored in it.
Does it make a difference to you? Yes, it does. You're the one covering the storage costs of stuff that isn't yours.

The OP's neighbour is using the OP's green bin, hasn't contributed to the cost of the bin (saved themselves money there) also hasn't needed to go to the tip to dispose of waste there either (another money saver for the neighbour) and also hasn't given any indication that they will contribute to the costs.
@Motheringthrough - contact your waste disposal company (or council) and see if they could pop a flyer in your neighbour's letterbox about green recycling and the costs of having a green bin.
Not sure how often you use your green bin but if you could get rid of it and say that you're going to be bringing your green waste to the tip because you don't have enough to warrant the green bin or you're changing service providers then tell your neighbour that he will have to sort his own green waste out going forwards. See if that might work.

Are you new here? 😂

Each week I pull my pensioner neighbours wheelie bin down her pathway to the road edge for collection. When I get back home from work I wheel it back to the side of her house again. On reflection, the old biddy has been a bit of cheeky fucker over the years. Not even a bottle of wine feom her. I'm going to empty the bin all over her garden and shit through her letterbox. That will teach her to take advantage of my goodwill over the years.

@Blouson
"Probably asks for a free lift into town. Well there's 4 empty seats in the car after all."

Yep! Tell me you wouldn't ask for petrol money to take someone somewhere you were going already.......Please tell me....

What I would do here is say to him. Scandalous isn't it that were asked to pay even more just to recycle. To save us both money why don't we split the cost and share a green bin all year round. If he says no then he won't come back again asking to use the bin and if he says yes then you've got half the cost for fair use of the bin.

I think you are being unreasonable. You have already paid, it's not costing you anything, there is space in the bin, he asks if it's ok. Why shouldn't you do someone a favour when there is no skin off your nose.

Why don’t you compost your garden waste?

( missing the point but curious. A compost bin , and a shredder if you have lots of very woody material is a much better way of dealing with your garden waste)

@Motheringthrough I'm not brilliant at maths, but I THINK he owes you 41.5p a month......

But sometimes it is full. I think it is a cheek. Some people are so tight.

who is there to decide if the OP needs it or not?

It's really rude to expect a service for free when someone else is paying for it.

@Blouson

and again, so what??

if I'm going, my neighbour is welcome to have a lift.

Seriously weird that anyone would mind someone using a bit of space THAT YOU DON'T NEED in your bin!