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Going away for school holidays & nobody to do the bins?

221 replies

gardenhenn · 09/07/2026 12:27

We are taking DC away for a significant amount of time during the 6 weeks holidays and will have nobody to do the bins.

Have asked my parents as they live 25 minutes away but have said it's too far and they also workZ

Siblings/cousins also work and have their own kids to look after and would be unfair as again live 25 minutes away in the same town as parents.

Now, I have never had an argument or falling out with neighbours.

But there is tension due to the varying issues around this estate and I don't speak to my NDN on the right ( I would do her bins at times but she has stopped saying hello/speaking to everyone which suits me fine as she makes me feel uncomfortable).

I do exchange small talk/ hello with the other and get on OK but form feel comfortable asking her.

We genuinely don't know what to do.
Anybody been in a similar situation?

The only solution would be to leave the bins until we get back?

OP posts:
JustKeepSwimmingJust · 09/07/2026 23:21

Don’t use the public bins for household waste: it’s fly tipping and occasionally people get prosecuted (with daily Mail sad face photos)

If there’s an over 10 year old within a few houses, go and knock on the door and ask their parents if they want to earn a bit of pocket money and offer them maybe £5 per day you want the bins moving.

otherwise just leave them. I’ve honestly never had a problem from just leaving the bins!

Dublassie · 09/07/2026 23:14

ThisDandyWriter · 09/07/2026 15:29

I want your life.
if you have so little to worry you that you have taken time out to post about this.

ffs. Use your initiative. Use your brain.

THINK ABOUT SOLUTIONS

we could never be friends. Honestly one of the most pathetic posts I’ve seen in a long time e.

Have to agree . What the hell ???

Kunik · 09/07/2026 22:59

OneNewEagle · 09/07/2026 21:59

My god that’s disgusting.

Why? Instead of throwing food scraps, peels, coffee grounds etc in the bin, we put them in a plastic tub with a lid and then in a freezer. Are you disgusted by potato peels or bread crumbs? What do British people put in an organic waste bin? Poop? Rotten meat?

FeministThrowingAPrincessParty · 09/07/2026 22:40

AgnesMcDoo · 09/07/2026 12:31

You ask the nicer neighbour you can and offer to return the favour in the future.

or pick a neighbour with a teenager and offer to pay them.

This

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 09/07/2026 22:33

SpreadsheetLife · 09/07/2026 21:48

Just the leave the bins out for collection?

In my area you can’t just leave them the whole time, you can leave them the day before and must move them the next day. Someone I know got a fine for leaving them longer!

Gentlydoesit2 · 09/07/2026 22:08

Pay a local handypersonteenager?

Bufftailed · 09/07/2026 22:06

Why are you doing the bins?

REDB99 · 09/07/2026 22:04

This is a complete non-event. Either leave them or go to the tip before you go away. Why are you posting for advice about something that is so simply solved.

Pinkpony123 · 09/07/2026 22:03

I'd ask neighbour number 2! Surely there won't be much in it as you will be away anyway?

OneNewEagle · 09/07/2026 21:59

Kunik · 09/07/2026 21:37

We freeze any remaining organic waste before we go away.

My god that’s disgusting.

OneNewEagle · 09/07/2026 21:58

Clean recycling leave in bin for your return. Other waste take to tip before you go.

OpenScroller · 09/07/2026 21:55

We always put ours out ready at the end of the drive, they're always there and empty when we get back!

Jllllllll · 09/07/2026 21:53

You know when you’re going so don’t put anything. In the bin that’s just been emptied and so a tip run every week until then. Recycling can wait as it won’t smell. Or put it out before you go and accept it route left out. Hopefully a neighbour may move it back o to your property

SpreadsheetLife · 09/07/2026 21:48

Just the leave the bins out for collection?

aberturret · 09/07/2026 21:46

Just ask the neighbour you speak to!! I barely know any of my neighbours but it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest taking 2 mins to put their bins out. Give them a bunch of flowers from the shop or a bottle of wine to say thank you and offer the same to them when they go on hols.

LittleBearPad · 09/07/2026 21:41

Kunik · 09/07/2026 21:37

We freeze any remaining organic waste before we go away.

Shock I hope this is a joke

I’ve been on MN for over a decade and I think this may be the oddest thing I’ve read. And there’s been some stiff competition over the years

TheKitchenLady · 09/07/2026 21:39

So it's the recycling bins: clean, dry waste. Why would it matter if it's not emptied? No smells. No flies. Go on holiday and enjoy making special memories.

Kunik · 09/07/2026 21:37

We freeze any remaining organic waste before we go away.

MidnightEagle · 09/07/2026 21:34

Surely asking your neighbour is the logical solution?! That's what everyone round here does!

JudgeJ · 09/07/2026 21:32

Ireallywantadoughnut36 · 09/07/2026 20:59

We have one that's about 15 mins away, no need to book a slot, open 6 days a week. Another is maybe 30 mins. Where we used to live it was maybe 35 mins drive as we were on the outskirts of London so traffic took forever and then growing up in a small village it was still only 15-20 mins drive....

We have one very close but we now have to book, which is no real problem. The problem is going costs me money, it's on the way to a Waitrose and I always feel it would be a waste no to carry on after the tip!

Besidemyselfwithworry · 09/07/2026 21:28

gardenhenn · 09/07/2026 12:30

The general waste bin was just collected so by the time we go in a few weeks it will be half full.

Won't be back until end August.

Maybe you could pay a local dog walker to put them on our their rounds?

mamajong · 09/07/2026 21:27

Just bite the bullet and ask a neighbour. Id do it for a neighbour i dont know that well its not that deep is it, theyre putting their own out anyway

JudgeJ · 09/07/2026 21:27

I can't believe that someone able to get away for 6 weeks or whatever is worrying about the bins! We did a lot of long road trips etc back in the day and I can guarantee we never gave the bins a single thought!

Keepingittogetherstepbystep · 09/07/2026 21:24

There must be some very different rules in different areas with the responses on here.

If I left my bin out for 6 weeks it would be confiscated by the council, I found be fined and also have to pay to replace it.

Taking the contents to the tip using one of the bin collection companies seem the best idea.

Leaving it out for 6 weeks if your council aren't as strict as mine might put your house at risk.

Zanatdy · 09/07/2026 21:24

Just take what’s there to the tip any actual rubbish, recycling can wait until you return.