Bin politics ( a bit trivial!)

[ChipTheFish]

We live in a building with 4 flats. The bins are outside in a walled enclosure. They are quite old fashioned bins, I don't really know how to describe them properly, but there is basically a drum with a lid with a handle on the top.

Anyway, for some reason someone in the building keeps putting their bin bags on top of our bin. We moved in 6 months ago, everybody else has lived in their flats for upwards of 10 years. It happens at least once a week, and its starting to bug me. The bins aren't very big so it is understandable that sometimes their bags might not fit in, but for some reason they always put it on top of ours!

Today when I went out the bag on top of our bin was burst, so there is litter all over the bin enclosure and I got in a right mess moving it off of I could put my bag in.

I was thinking that maybe when it happens its because one of the neighbours kids is putting the bin out and they might not know who's is who's.

So would it be a unreasonable/passive agressive to stick a bit of paper on the top of our bin that says 'Flat 1, Please do not place bags on top of bin.'

I don't want to go and say to each family in case they think I am trying to cause trouble or being disrespectful to them (they are all a lot older than us)

Wow, what a long post for a bin problem!

Maybe put a little sign reading,'please use your own bin and make sure the area is kept tidy'?

I don't think this is trivial at all.

I would personally put a big permanent note on the bin with your flat number on it and please keep clear or similar. See if that works.

Are you sure that it is your bin and there isn't just four bins for four flats that everyone puts rubbish in?

Oh, I hadn't thought of that Frostyfoxy Does that happen? Although if that was the case I think they would have put it inside the bin as we don't have any bags of rubbish in it at the moment, just the dogs poo bags.

I'llgetoverit I wish I had the balls to put something like that, but we are the new kids on the block, and I would worry that if I put a 'Keep Clear' sign, they would think we were getting above our station.

Bejeena I'm glad I'm not being really petty! It's annoying having to move the bags all the time, but also I don't want the other neighbours to think that it us who are really messy and leaving burst bags outside the bin!

I used to live in a flat and there were bins in an enclosure like you describe and we didn't have a specific bin each, just used whichever one was empty! If the bins don't have numbers on them I would think they are not specific to each flat. Try putting your rubbish in another bin and see what happens perhaps? Or ask one of the nieghbours if there are specific bins for each flat as you wouldn't want to upset anyone by using the wrong one?

Strange that someone wouldn't lift the lid and put the bin bag inside the bin but there are strange folk out there!!

Thanks Frostyfoxy, I'll definitely check that before I put up any signage :)

Could you contact the management company and ask for some clarification on the bin situation?

Ask them does each flat have a specific bin to use or is it a like a free-for-all and use whichever bin has space?

If it's the first one (each flat has a specific bin) ask them would they mind numbering the bins please or would they have any objections to you number the bins (you can buy stickers that go on bins quite cheaply)?
If it is a free-for-all, then you are able to use whichever bin you like

I ran out of flat pasta the other day for lasagne so just cooked pasta shells, and mixed with the sauce and put on top of the meat stuff and baked, was very nice.

oh oh wrong thread, now how did i do that

that was really funny eosmum!