The new bin collection system is a nightmare. Anyone else?

[ThisIsJustDisgusting]

We had our new bins three weeks ago.

The food bin wasn't collected for a fortnight during the heatwave and so everything in the bins had rotted, decomposed, fermented (weird alcohol smell to it). And, when they wre finally collected last week, the stench that arose and lingered in the street afterwards was phenomenally foul.

I've got a pretty strong stomach but even I struggled washing the food bin out afterwards. I've never smelt anything like it.

I think part of the problem is that the composting bags provided were really thin and tore easily. Part of the problem is that there's nothing else in the bin to soak up any liquid that comes from the rotting food.

Evidently, none of neighbours washed out their bin because, a week on, I can't open the windows because the whole house ends up smelling of it 😭

Has anyone else noticed similar? Is this just how life is now..?

Our council actually advise NOT to use compostable bags. They have a bag removal system at the processing plant. They suggest purchased single use plastic bags.....yes really! or using things like the bags you get bread or other foods in. they also suggest wrapping food items in newspapers which would soak up some of the wetness. I do get a newspaper but they get used for household craft and DIY jobs or put in recycling.

I cant understand why it varies so much council to council. We can only have 2 bins - 1 general waste including food, and one for plastics and glass. We have bags for paper. To be honest , it suits me as I would not appreciate faffing about with food waste.But it shouldn’t be so different.

Yeah mine had handle partly broken off after first collection.

most of my neighbours have given up I think.

They don't take the liner, they empty the bags out of it

I didn't explain it well but they leave the liner behind

I do this in really hot weather. My council has been collecting food waste for decades now, and we don't seem to have the issues you're talking about. We have to buy our own compostable bags though. (Mind you the whole of Mumsnet were shocked that we also have to buy our own general waste bin/wheelie bin, too!)

I don't have much food waste - I've got a tiny garden so no room for a compost bin, but it's just me, so less than a bagful a week.

I live in an area where we don't have food bins yet, we've got until 2040 apparently!

Doesn't it encourage vermin though having it in a bin for a week getting smellier and smellier?

I do compost a lot of our food waste but it's heavily mixed with cardboard, paper and coffee grind waste, with a lot of compost worms to break it down.

That's interesting because Councils were required by the government to offer food waste collection and the deadline for doing it was march 31st this year. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ensuring-good-waste-collection-services-for-households

@godmum56 I presume our council is one of those that has been granted a delay . There’s definitely no food collection here.

yes, some were.

I stopped using the food bin, the so called lockable handles aren't, my dogs can open them, and they've been opened when left outside. This has resulted in flies and maggots alongside the stench. Problems I never had when food went in general waste. I am only going to do food waste in winter months when there's less/no flies around

After we got maggots in ours and it was just so disgusting, oozing liquid, I’ve started only using it a maximum of 3 days before the bin collection. I’ll increase that when the weather gets colder!

We’ve had this system for 10+ years and have 3 weekly black bins, it’s fine once you get used to it

We've had these food bins in our area for a good decade or more and I don't recognise any of the problems listed here.

The bin has a locking handle so it's shut all the time.
No vermin can get in.
You bag or wrap food waste going in and can wash the bin out if it smells.
It takes a moment. I think I've had to wash my bin about once a year for a decade.

Not necessarily! It's not a problem where we are, our council says 'You can use plastic bags, bin liners, biodegradable bags or newspaper to line the inside of your caddy and food waste bin if you wish. Any caddy liners or plastic bags are easily separated from the food waste by a shredding machine before the recycling process begins.'

It must depend on the area.

We've been doing this for ages and no issues. We put a brick on top of the outside caddy and never had vermin or flies/maggots. Never sent problem with the indoor bin either. But we make sure the lid is down and it's in the cupboard under the sink.

it does. Ours specifically says not to use compostable or biodegradeable bags

Does anyone know how this is working in areas with communal bins?

We haven't had the new bins yet but had a recent newsletter state by summer next year for us but nothing is really clear about shared bins. Mine and surrounding streets mainly have a shared bin corner per street of currently 4 bins (3 general waste, 1 recycling) covering 40ish houses. Emptied weekly but all overflow regularly almost half way between collection days. Food waste being added to this sounds like it is going to be even more of a disaster.

I drilled holes in the bottom corners of my bin so any liquid could drain out.

They empty ours every week.

The system.is fine. The smell is not.

Our council website says that food bins are to be collected weekly. The ones on our lane never, ever got collected. They have been used as planters, or put in the garden of an empty house. Food waste (if it can't be eaten by pets, or thrown onto a plate for the next day) just goes in the general bin, as it Must Not Contaminate Garden Waste (which goes out every fortnight, if you pay for it to be collected). Recycling trolleys are collected every week, and general bins once a month.

Yes the bags must be compostable here, I use my kitchen one for a few days for peelings then empty it bag and all into another compostable bag in my big food bin every couple of days. I’ve never noticed a smell in our street at all. I don’t eat meat and I don’t think my neighbours do either so maybe that helps? I couldn’t fit my small bin in the fridge, it just goes on the countertop.

Line the bin with newspaper and liberally sprinkle with salt. Cinnamon helps deter flies.

If you wrap/bag food waste I don't know how your bins get dirty/smelly.
If bins are closed how does the smell get out?
Are people leaving open, filthy bins in the street?
I've never seen that where we are and we've had the system for years.