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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:
OneLimePombear · 09/07/2026 21:22

Take it to the tip.

workitoutt · 09/07/2026 21:22

Take it to the tip. And try to make friends with your neighbours. It’s life-enhancing, and not only for mutual favours.

SowWhatNow · 09/07/2026 21:14

gardenhenn · 09/07/2026 12:29

The thing is it's the recycling bin collection that will be missed, it's half full already and we will miss the collection for that.

Take them to the tip/recycling centre yourself then as part of your preholiday close-down. Simples.

If you've got noone to do it then do it yourself.

Difficulty101 · 09/07/2026 21:13

Can you offer a neighbour a tenner to do your bin? They may also be happy to use the extra space in the recycling bin.

RedRock41 · 09/07/2026 21:12

Leave it til you get back. Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’ll keep.

MrsDoubtfire123 · 09/07/2026 21:10

IsThisACrazyThoughtDec25 · 09/07/2026 12:29

Take it all to the tip.the day before you go?

This 👍

ConfusedSoShutUp · 09/07/2026 21:06

Kaidaia · 09/07/2026 12:34

Do you have a local Facebook group or WhatsApp group. Maybe ask if local teenager would be interested in sorting your bins for a small fee

Don't do this... you are telling God knows who you are away!

Coconutter24 · 09/07/2026 21:00

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.

It won’t get any fuller whilst you’re away though so I don’t see the problem.

Ireallywantadoughnut36 · 09/07/2026 20:59

RuralLiving123 · 09/07/2026 20:54

I'm going off at a bit of a tangent here, but does everyone genuinely have an easily accessible tip? My nearest one is an hour's drive each way and visits have to be pre-booked.

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....

TheCurious0range · 09/07/2026 20:58

Our bins live at the end of the drive, just leave them there, the bin men will take them and put them back on the drive (usually somewhere that means you have to move them to get the car on the drive)

TheTortiePuffinNeedsHerBreakfast · 09/07/2026 20:57

This really is a non issue. Take it to the tip before you go, leave the recycling til you get back, put daily waste in a public bin in the run up to your departure.

Ireallywantadoughnut36 · 09/07/2026 20:57

Go to the tip the day before or ask the neighbour you day hello to but offer to pay her. I'm not besties with any of my neighbours but they all feed our cat for a tenner a day, no questions asked

21ZIGGY · 09/07/2026 20:57

just put them all out the day you go

itsgettingweird · 09/07/2026 20:55

Just leave the bins out before you go and ask nice neighbour if they mind popping them back.

If they do mind it won’t be you dodging the bins for the time you’re away!

RuralLiving123 · 09/07/2026 20:54

I'm going off at a bit of a tangent here, but does everyone genuinely have an easily accessible tip? My nearest one is an hour's drive each way and visits have to be pre-booked.

lynnesaitken · 09/07/2026 20:49

Put your rubbish into a smaller carrier bag and dispose of into a public bin daily until you go? Don’t use your main bin

MrsAga · 09/07/2026 20:47

Haven’t RTFT so apologies if I’m repeating.

Contact a local dog walking person, they are professionals so no worry about who knows you’re away & they’ll be driving around the area, so able to put them out and bring back in. They’ll charge whatever they do for a dog visit (not a full walk charge).

Newbie2025 · 09/07/2026 20:44

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.

Can you contact you're local council and ask if they can pull them out and empty them? They do offer services for elderly and disabled where they will pull them out, obviously there may be a charge if you aren't elderly or disabled but saves you having to ask any neighbours.

OhBettyCalmDown · 09/07/2026 20:43

Whatever you do decide to do don’t advertise on a local forum that your house is empty!!

viques · 09/07/2026 20:42

My recycling is clean stuff, washed out tins and containers, bottles etc. Doesn’t smell etc. if there isn’t a lot in the bin I quite often don’t put it out for a few weeks for collection. You won’t be generating more recycling while you are away and when you come back just squash everything down a bit.

Freshstartyear25 · 09/07/2026 20:40

This is not an issue surely.
You have lots of options but the easiest will be to bag up your waste and take it to either the tip or go and put them in your parents or family members bin.

Tulipvase · 09/07/2026 20:33

Can you put extra recycling in clear bags where you live?

in my area, if you took recycling to the tip you would need to sort it first. Black bins can go as they are. We are allowed to put extra recycling out in clear bags, just put the rubbish from the bin in bags and leave that out?

I certainly wouldn’t leave my bin on the pavement for 6 weeks, very inconvenient for everyone else. And you can guarantee the bin men wouldn’t out it back on the drive either.

Greenwriter76 · 09/07/2026 20:31

gardenhenn · 09/07/2026 12:29

The thing is it's the recycling bin collection that will be missed, it's half full already and we will miss the collection for that.

Take it to the tip or if it’s only half full & you’ll be away just leave it until you’re back

SylvanMoon · 09/07/2026 20:29

gardenhenn · 09/07/2026 12:29

The thing is it's the recycling bin collection that will be missed, it's half full already and we will miss the collection for that.

If it's just the recycling, I'd leave it. It's not like it's going to be smelly or attracting rodents. The worst that could happen is a strong wind might blow it over, but you can block it in somehow to mitigate for that possibility.

Ipsevenenabibas · 09/07/2026 20:28

I wouldn't leave the bin out as it signals nobody is home and also it may get nicked. I would do a tip run before going away.