Neighbours complaining about the size of my binbags

[OKMorty]

AIBU to think that I have the right to use 15 litre bin bags? I mean what difference does it make? 2 x 8 litres bags v 1x 15 litre.

Surely it’s more environmentally friendly to use one bag than two for equal amounts of rubbish?

Anyway this all kicked off because a neighbour complained about the size of my rubbish bags.

For context there are 2 normal sized bins and 1 large one between 4 flats. I usually fill 1/2 of 1 normal sized bin (being just me) wheras the other flats have at least 2 occupants per flat.

Gobsmacked at the competitive under-rubbish-putting out. Our wheelie bin is collected once a fortnight and we always have extra bags that we have to either jam in or take to the tip. Different areas recycle different things though don't they. We recycle plastic, cans, jars, cardboard and food. But not all plastic can be recycled. I also think some measurements sounds off. Think of a four litre milk container, just two of those for a household rubbish per week as claimed by someone upthread? Bonkers!

How do people have so much non recyclable waste? I’m wondering how people have so little. We have quite a lot of non recyclable waste. Maybe some people are putting things in recycling that aren’t recyclable, or maybe we just need to stop buying Pringles, cartons of passata, etc! I also wouldn’t put plastic plant pots in recycling, for example. I think if there’s no triangle they can’t be recycled.

I think OP has got measurements wrong and means her bag is twice the size of a standard black bin bag. Where does she store it all if o LG put out once a week?

"but we still generate plenty of non recyclable waste"

How??

Maybe just because a lot of the packaging is still non recyclable?
Tbh we do recycle a lot but half of the time, I put some stuff (aka plastic) to recycling wo being 100% sure it is....

@BiscuitDrama I think Pringles and carton of passata are recylable??

8l is bathroom bin sized, 15l isn't much bigger. My kitchen bin is a duo bin with 2x27L sections. I use a 50l bag in it. There are lots of things you can't recycle e.g. we arent allowed to put in pizza boxes as they get contaminated with grease.

We recycle everything we can, including trips to recycling centres because what our council accepts is minimal. If we didn’t have a car or a garden for compost, which quite possibly the OP doesn’t if s/he is in a flat, we would have far more rubbish.

I think a lot of people throw all plastics into the recycling bin whether they are recyclable or not. All stretchy plastics and plastic films are non recyclable, as are all tetra pak type cartons. Polystyrene is not recyclable nor is bubble wrap or any plastic with food/oil/grease inbedded in/on it.

Pringles & passata cartons can be recycled here!

So, are you saying that each week you put in one bag that is twice the size of your neighbours and generally, they put in TWO bags that are much smaller?

Or are you saying everyone puts in one bag per week?

I sympathise actually. We probably end up with the same amount of rubbish a week and we recycle a lot, but so much of the packaging has a cannot be recycled label on it. I can't tell that until our online shopping arrives though. We now have tiny bins and none of the other people in the communal bins bother to recycle.

"as are all tetra pak type cartons. Polystyrene is not recyclable nor is bubble wrap "

Goodness-we can recycle all of that!

We can recycle tetra packs but not polystyrene, bubble wrap , cling film, kitchen roll, etc.

So when you are judging others for the amount of rubbish they generate please bear in mind not all councils recycle the same items as yours

What can and can't be recycled can vary wildly across councils so it's no point in saying what is recycled in your area as it'll probably be different in the OPs area.

Our bins are emptied once every 3 weeks. When it’s full I take small bag of rubbish to the super bin.
I saw on the news that the council were going start fining people for this, I can’t really understand the problem with doing this.

Where do they even get 8L bags? I had to get 10L bags from Amazon, which are way too big for my 5L bin, because the smallest the grocery sold was 20L. Didn't even see 8L...

Mumsnet competitiveness at its best ”how on earth can you generate so much rubbish, we only need our black bin collected annually, when we give our eco-friendly Christmas gift to the recycling team”

diddl I am in Germany too and we can recycle all of that. each household has their own wheelie bin for plastics and one for paper. they are emptied every 3 weeks.

" so it's no point in saying what is recycled in your area as it'll probably be different in the OPs area."

I've already put that I'm in Germany I & know that we can recycle a lot here.

Even so, Op as one person is probably putting out about as much stuff to landfill as we do as a family of 4!

I honestly think you should just ignore them and carry on disposing responsibly. They are sad (or luck?!)if that's all they have to whinge about.

Ah I see Pringles have been recyclable since October. I’m behind.

Maybe tetrapacks have changed too.

We definitely can’t recycle polystyrene, not even at the tip.

They're complaining because you're obviously not recycling. We are a family of 3 and don't put out that much rubbish.

Tetrapaks are recyclable at the kerbside here. Plastic film is not.

On the subject of Pringles cans, Walkers do a version that is in an entirely cardboard tube, including the lid.

its also depending of the council what can be recycled. My Mil leaves in neighbouring council, and she only can recycle half of what we can recycle.

You cant actually recycle Pringles cans normally. You need to stash them up and get them collected by ups. Similar to the post back scheme with walkers. This is a huge problem with recycling, so many bags wasted by people trying to be too good. If you are unsure, black bag it - otherwise the whole streets recycling could be wasted.