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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Well, am I?! HONEY, WHO SHRUNK THE WHEELIE BIN?! I'm overheating and the f*****s have stolen my wheelie bin!!!

215 replies

PimpMyWheelieBin · 04/07/2018 20:22

NC.

Got home today to find my large wheelie bin has shrunk!!! In its place is a miniature version!!! Toy Town!!! No warning, no contact from the local council, nothing. I am not pleased.

Now locally, with DCs using nappies, or if you have a large family, then you are entitled to the large bin. We qualify on the nappy front.

A few months ago, the local council sent out forms to everyone to check current status. I diligently filled in the form and sent it back. The waste management team came round and exchanged a few neighbours' (now only with older DCs) large wheelie bins for the small ones, but as expected they left our large one. All seemed well.

Until today, when a swap of ours was done out of the blue.

We are not huge consumers, and all our garden waste and recycling goes into the separate bins without fail. With a family, and pets, and DCs using nappies, the large wheelie bin is full for the fortnightly collections. We live rurally, there is no nearby household waste site, and of course we'd never, ever flytip. With the best will in the world, we couldn't manage with a smaller bin. If we could, we would.

The best, or worst, part of this scenario - and the bit that has me flapping around doing forehead-slapping impressions of a sweaty Victor Meldrew in a flowery dress and wedge-heeled sandals - follows:

Our old large wheelie bin was nearly half full, mainly of bagged nappies. These nappies have been taken out and transferred over to the new miniature wheelie bin, leaving it pretty full already. The next collection is over a week away.

What sort of useless article does that?! Comes to do a bin swap, sees the old one is half full of nappies, and carries on anyway?! Did this fooly mcfoolface not stop to think for one minute, 'oh, this must be a mistake, these people have the nappy entitlement to a large bin, I'd better leave it and go back to base, or ring, and check. But no. Instead he, (for it must be a he), took the time and trouble to decant all the nappies over to the new miniature bin. He didn't even knock on our door to check, (because someone was working at home all day).

I am not one of those 'I pay my council tax!' kind of people, and I usually really really appreciate the jobs people do for us, that keep our communities and lives ticking over. But this lack of any contact from the local council, and the lack of initiative from the person who did the swap, beggars belief!!!

I know it's hot, but is the weather that hot that even our wheelie bins are f'ing shrinking?! Angry

It is these straws that break our hardworking backs. Gin😣

OP posts:
Walkingdeadfangirl · 04/07/2018 23:45

Nothing goes in the wheelie bin that can be recycled Unless you count disposable/reusable nappies? Most of the UK are fine with the smaller bins and extra recycling. Nobody needs to dispose of that much waste.

Gladyoupoppedround · 04/07/2018 23:45

If you track yours down then personalise it all over eg paint it with big flowers etc. They won't be tempted to do it again. YANBU. I'd be well peed off.

PimpMyWheelieBin · 04/07/2018 23:57

Guilty as charged on the disposable nappy front, Olivia. It's my one rubbish regret! I don't mind you pointing it out. I had fully intended to use reusable nappies, but after a tough multiples pregnancy, premature nightmare birth, recovering and breastfeeding, it is something I haven't managed. We do what we can.

Henry VIII's disposables. Now there's an unpleasant thought

OP posts:
Leo90 · 04/07/2018 23:57

Eventually and very reluctantly. They originally said they didn't stock the larger bins but funnily enough the returned one is actually council branded.

However the best bit is one our recycling bins is a mini bin apparently not available in the bigger size, we fill it every time and if we have to much we've just to put it in the normal bin.

Helloflamingogo · 05/07/2018 00:01

Are you in Scotland OP? The council next to me has been doing this.

CSIblonde · 05/07/2018 00:04

Are you in East London by any chance? Wheelie bin thefts rampant. All 3 flat's bins in our building were taken so many times Council gave us one mahoosive metal industrial one for all 3 flats.

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 05/07/2018 00:06

Don’t the council replace them without charge? Why would you want to nick one?

PimpMyWheelieBin · 05/07/2018 00:09

We're currently in England, Hello, but quite a long way from Croydon, NotNowWink. Is everyone getting downsized where you both are, or are there still exemptions for nappies/large families?

OP posts:
PimpMyWheelieBin · 05/07/2018 00:16

Yes, it's plain daft, Leo, if the recycling bin is so small - it's not encouraging recycling, is it?!

It also sounds like the council aren't being entirely honest, doesn't it?!

At least our recycling bins are a big size.

OP posts:
Leo90 · 05/07/2018 00:22

Where we are they only replace them if you're a council tenant.

PimpMyWheelieBin · 05/07/2018 00:27

There's a charge for replacements in our area certainly, Iamagrey, I've just looked. It ranges from about £15-£30, depending on the type and size.

If people are stealing them, maybe they can't afford or don't want to pay for a new one, or can't be bothered to order one and wait. Or as PPs suggest on here, they're coveting and stealing the larger size.

OP posts:
PimpMyWheelieBin · 05/07/2018 00:42

I think I've also read about kids stealing them to ride around in or even sledge in!

OP posts:
PimpMyWheelieBin · 05/07/2018 00:45

Not in East London, CSI. You have to wonder who kept taking your's and why?!

OP posts:
BearsDontDigOnDancing · 05/07/2018 01:01

Our wheelie bin went missing after collection day.

Cost me £20 to get a new one from the council.

The day after we get the new one, and the day after the next collection the neighbour 2 doors down, at 6 am (as I was leaving for work, she looked shocked to see me) was pulling a bin out from her side alley, saw me and was all "oooh, i think we have your bin by mistake" yet she had her own bin also, which I knew as she keeps hers in the front.

She looked rather shame faced when I said we had had to pay £20 for a replacement.

We think she "borrowed" our bin as she had loads of rubbish to get rid of then, with the intention of giving it back, after a couple of weeks when she "noticed" she all of a sudden had 2 bins.

So now I have 2 bins.

PimpMyWheelieBin · 05/07/2018 01:04

Big bins are hot property. Who knew?! Only on mumsnet.

I'm still shaking my head at Itscoming's big wheelie being stolen 15 minutes after she moved house. Just incredible. Some people are, indeed, just CFs.

Village here, too. Maybe it's the same one?!

OP posts:
PimpMyWheelieBin · 05/07/2018 01:13

What a CF, Bears. Were you friendly with her at all beforehand, living so close? What were you meant to do in the meantime?! Did she give you your £20 back? What front!

OP posts:
BearsDontDigOnDancing · 05/07/2018 01:19

Not really, only to smile at really. I just took the bin from her and she scuttled back into the house.

Was a bit annoying though. But 2 bins has come in handy since I have had a major clear out since and have used them both for a couple of weeks. Other than that we rarely fill one bin.

PimpMyWheelieBin · 05/07/2018 01:24

Maybe you could send me your spare one then Bears. Could certainly do with a big sort out too.

OP posts:
PimpMyWheelieBin · 05/07/2018 01:25

You wonder how she can look you in the eye after that.

OP posts:
DiegoMadonna · 05/07/2018 01:34

Can't you just call the council tomorrow and ask them to sort it out? This whole thread seems like a bit of an overreaction!

P.s. we spent a load of money on cloth nappies when DD was 6 months old and it was a great decision. Washing them is super simple, I don't have to feel guilty about waste, and we've saved money. And we'll save even more when DC2 is born!

PimpMyWheelieBin · 05/07/2018 01:35

Thanks for the tip and the support, Glad. If it's a CF neighbour it might put them off in future, though I doubt it would make any difference if it's the CF council. I'll try it though, if ever I get it back, that is.

OP posts:
PimpMyWheelieBin · 05/07/2018 01:52

Are you the wheelie bin thief, Diego?

Did you steal it with the Hand of God?

OP posts:
Fruitbat1980 · 05/07/2018 06:14

Bins are hot property in Kent! You have to plaster house name/ number all over them and even then they still get robbed. Our last local village newsletter has the headline “where you wheelie bin?” Grin after someone stole the village halls bins and made them their own , after their own we’re stolen by someone else driving through the village. Said people were caught on CCTV (stealing from village hall) and police got involved etc. It’s doubled the crime rate round here!!!
My money is on a CF neighbour who got a small bin and took a fancy to yours. Nothing to do with council!

CasperGutman · 05/07/2018 06:19

Everyone here in Cardiff was downsized. I don't think there was an exception for nappy users, but there is a separate "hygiene waste" collection we can sign up for. This will take an unlimited number of disposable nappies ( or similar - e.g. liners from reusables, used wipes etc.) in attractive yellow and black sacks. Does your council offer anything like this?

ellesbellesxxx · 05/07/2018 06:25
Shock Just to say YANBU We have twins and yes, like you I intended to use reusables until I realised that even small babies x 2 produce x millions more washing. Our bin brims every two weeks with nappies and that’s with my parents taking rubbish home for us!
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