Is it a legal requirement to recycle?!

[Neonrainbowxx]

I’ve just moved house last month and for some reason there isn’t a recycling bin- I need to buy one (£36) but I don’t have a spare £36 to hand until next month for various reasons so I just put it on the back burner and have been sticking everything in general waste. Not ideal I know but buying a recycling bin was low on the list of things to buy for the house!

I didn’t think much of it until tonight when I’ve put the bin out and the neighbour next door for some strange reason has decided to rummage through the bin (god knows why) and has proceeded to hammer on the door all guns blazing for not recycling. She yelled that the bin men would refuse to take the bin and I’d be fined (along with some other choice words 😤). Is this true?! Starting to panic that I need to bring the bin back in now!

No idea whether it’s a legal requirement but why don’t you just use a large box and label it ‘Recyclables’ till you get around to getting a bin?

Don't know if it's a legal requirement but ours won't take it if it's spotted in the general waste bin.

I'm pretty certain there's no legal requirement. When our recycling bins got stolen by a neighbour we had to wait months for a replacement from the council and put everything in general waste with no problems. I've never heard of having to pay for a recycling bin? Your neighbour is totally nuts

No its not legally required and you're perfectly fine to put it in your general waste if you don't have the correct bins.

In my LA you can get recycling bins for free and only need to pay to replace a general waste bin

I don't think it's a legal requirement, but our council will refuse to collect and put a label on the bin. They do fine you if you do it to often but I'm not sure what that is and probably different for different local councils.

Our council will provide free recycling bags if you don't have a bin or need extra. Maybe worth asking if yours do.

Won’t your council supply a bin?

If you have just moved you should be able to get a free recycling bin. The fee is usually only if you have lost your bin. Don't put the stuff out in a random box as a PP suggested, they won't take it. Oh and your neighbour is bonkers, don't worry..

Did your neighbour trespass on your property to go down your bins?

Im sick of recycling building up around the house when theres no space for it in the bag/bin, bloody cardboard out the back, buckets of cans and bottles. Sick of it

I’d be more worried that you seem to have moved next door to a very odd and aggressive person?

If you have just moved, the council should supply a bin.

Unless you live in China and it's a condition of your residency permit, no, however
the Circular Economy Bill planned to be introduced in Scotland will make it compulsory with fines for non compliance.
I think it's shit that your Council is charging you £36 for a new bin and your neighbour ought to have better things to do.

Which council and are you sure you need to pay for a new recycling bin?

Who made her bin police?

That is totally unhinged behaviour from your neighbour!
You could try contacting either your landlord or the previous owner of your house as applicable. My understanding is that the bins should stay at the property and not be removed when the house changes hands.

Oh that’s interesting re: the bin charges! When I rang up they told me it was the same price for general waste or recycling. I’ll try ringing them again tomorrow to double check!

I’ll start keeping recycling back in the house to be on the safe side. Probably should have done this from day one but didn’t want junk lying around. That said it’s probably better that than run ins with the strange lady next door!

She didn’t trespass as the bin was out ready for collection tomorrow but she’s a bit odd- I’ve only been here a month and it’s the 3rd run in I’ve had with her 🙄 she’s well known in the street for being difficult by all accounts!

Our council will take recycling as long as it's in some strong sturdy container, doesn't have to be in a council wheelie bin or box. As long as it's not in a plastic bag /sack it's ok. And they will replace a lost or damaged bin, or if there wasn't one when you moved in with no charge - unless it's a brand new build property. I would call your council and check with them.

I dont use my box, I just put plastics and glass in a white bag. Paper gets recycled different week but I always have an extra box full of card/paper that doesn't fit in the bin. Always collected.

Our council won't collect if stuff is visibly in the wrong bins.

You can also just put a plastic tub or whatever out with a label on it and they'll empty it for recycling.

Tbh I’d have more of an issue with my neighbour thinking it’s ok to rummage through my bins than a recycling bin.

Are you in the UK OP? Which council? The neighbour it utterly bizarre!

Next week, plan bin night in advance! I'd enlist some ketchup and melted chocolate to act as props. At the very top of the bin, I'd leave 'used' tampons, nappies, tissues with unknown 'bodily fluids', fish heads, razors, nails or any other random shite you can leave on the top. 😃

Maybe a sign for the neighbour when they open the lid too 'SMILE- you are on camera!' Ideally adding- 'You FILTHY animal' 😂

First of all I would tell your neighbour to mind her own sodding business!

My local council will provide free recycling bins ( max one of each type per year ) the you have to pay for them.
The neighbouring council charge for any bin but I am not sure how much it is.

If I were you I'd ring the council again , explaining you have only just moved in and the previous tenants had not left a bin for you.

I'd also start a diary of batshit neighbours behaviour, I have a feeling you may need it for proof down the line .

No its not a legal requirement. You'll be fine putting everything in your general waste bin.

It’s definitely not a legal requirement in my area.

The woman sounds like she has some MH issues and could be a bit of a pain.

I have a couple of old plastic storage boxes in my shed that I put my recycling stuff in and then every few weeks I take it to the dump.

We don’t have bins here so it’s black bags or recycling bags and I would always forget which weeks were what.

Just tell the council your neighbour has stolen your recycling bin 🙂

Our council will take any recycling if it’s put out in transparent bin bags or supermarket bags. If you have an old plastic storage box in the house you could use this as a temporary replacement (write your house no. on the side).

If you've moved in fairly recently, you are allowed 1 free bin.

So if you do not have one, you could ring up, explain you've just moved in and they should provide you with a free bin. I did when I moved here.
They may ask you for proof of you moving, although to be honest, they did not ask me.
I would chance it either way and find out.
Neighbour is batshit though. Just ignore.