Yes, I know it's just bins, not NATO, but these little things become a stone in your shoe.
We've lived in this house for about 5 years. We are number 2 on a terrace of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12. The bins for 2, 4, 6 are behind the houses to the left. The bins for 8, 10, 12 are behind the houses to the right, so we don't have anything to do with those bins.
We've always had a system of one house taking out all 3 bins the night before bin day, or putting all 3 away.
About a year ago, 4 moved, and the new neighbours carried on the system.
After a few months, it turned out that it was ALWAYS now me/DH putting the bins out AND taking them back. Like you get home from work and the bins are still out. Not like we were running out the minute the bin men let go of the bins.
So one week we just didn't take the bins out, and let the 2, 4, 6 row miss bin day.
After that, for a few weeks 4/6 were sometimes taking the bins out bringing them back.
Yesterday, and the same last week too, I don't know who put the bins out, but 6 took back only their bin.
I'm thinking of just doing 2 & 4 from now on, because sometimes you're away/forget and it helps to share the duty. But it will seem a bit passive aggressive to 6.
To avoid drip feeding, we all WFH on bin day generally. And 6 has 2 teens, so maybe, in the selfishness of teens, when they are told to 'take in the bin' they are doing their house only.
What would a rational, reasonable person do? Destroy the communal bin system entirely? Each house for themselves? Do you give notice this is happening, or just let them miss bin day again? We don't have each others numbers, so knocking on the door to talk about it feels pretty. We just say hello to each other. Nothing more.