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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think reducing general waste collections to every 3 weeks is unrealistic?

333 replies

HazelMember · 15/01/2026 19:20

The council has reduced general waste collections to once every 3 weeks instead of twice a month. The general waste wheelie bin is already half the size of a normal bin.

I already recycle as much as possible. Cardboard plastics food waste glass tins everything. I am genuinely trying to do the right thing environmentally. But even with all that the general waste still builds up especially with a family.

Three weeks feels like a long time to store rubbish. I keep seeing just recycle more as the answer but I am already doing that. There is not much left to recycle.

How are people actually managing this? Are you just producing less waste somehow or are your bins overflowing too?

AIBU to think this change does not reflect how households actually live?

OP posts:
BleeBlahBlue · 15/01/2026 19:36

Glasgow has been three weekly for general waste for a few years now.

If your bin was due to be lifted on Xmas Day, Boxing Day, 1st or 2nd Jan (Bank Hol here) it will be 6 weeks between collection with no catch up.

Brutal and we've seen a huge uptick of rats and flytipping. Glasgow was always a bit grimy compared to other cities, we've always had a littering problem, pavement full of cigarette doubts/chewing gum when I was growing up, but its an absolute midden now.

Notdanishsusan · 15/01/2026 19:34

Ours has been 3 weeks for around 10 years and it’s generally been fine apart from when DC1 was in a nappies. A big motivator for reusable for DC2.

ShanghaiDiva · 15/01/2026 19:33

our general waste is collected every three weeks and my bin is never overflowing. Recycling and food waste is collected weekly and our bag and box are normally full. My waste bin will be collected next week and is currently half full because I had a post Christmas clear out of kitchen cupboards.
However, for six months of the year it’s only me and Dh at home.

FOJN · 15/01/2026 19:33

Our general waste is only emptied once every three weeks. I live alone so mine only ever contains 1 30 litre kitchen bin bag, it's virtually empty when I put it out. The recycling is emptied every week. I gave no idea how people create so much rubbish. I've never filled a general waste bin even when I lived in a family household with every other week collection.

MarshaMarshaMarsha · 15/01/2026 19:32

Wow, ours is weekly. I can’t imagine going three weeks!!

TheDandyLion · 15/01/2026 19:30

Depends on the household. Our general waste is only collected every 3 weeks but we don't always put the bin out because its only got 1 bag in the wheelie bin. So its sometimes 6 weeks between it being collected.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 15/01/2026 19:28

What 'general waste' are you referring to specifically? We have been black bags every 3 weeks for a while and, in addition, we are limited to only three black bags per household per collection. I think there are allowances that can be applied for regarding things like larger families, nappies, etc but that may not be the case in your area.

IDontHateRainbows · 15/01/2026 19:24

Recycling centre. I go there most weeks now( you can also get rid of non recyclable waste although youre best to take some recyclable waste too or they don't like it).

Its always busy
What people without cars do, Ive no idea.