To want the bin returning to me

[ForZanyTraybake]

I signed up to the council garden waste bin collection last year and paid full subscription for my bin. A few days after my bin arrived my neighbour asked if I could get one for her as it was cheaper for a second bin on my account so I did. I paid in my account and she gave me the cash. This year she won't pay but refuses to return the bin. Is it my bin or hers? It's registered to my address and she's had her years worth of collections. Thanks for your replies 😊

So you have to pay to have your bins emptied? And you allowed your neighbour to just have you order an extra bin, fill it and then make out like she has no garbage/no requirement for a bin collection? You just have two?

Presumably the council can just take the bin away at your request? Or she just keeps it but the dustmen don't actually empty it?

Sorry I'm a bit confused. But no you shouldn't pay rubbish collection charges for someone else's house.

My concern would be (in your position) that if you now have only 1 bin registered to be emptied as opposed to the previous 2, the bin men may empty hers and leave yours full - unless they issue you with a new bar code sticker or some such thing, when you renew.

Let her put it out, swipe it, put it on your property where she can’t get hold of it, and contact the Council to come and collect your 2nd - now surplus - bin.

Meanwhile spray your house number on your bin, and padlock it during March so it’s of no use to her if she tries to rob it.

It's a garden waste collection not household waste. It's an opt in service with an annual subscription.

It's an annual subscription. Don't renew it.

It's the Council's bin, it doesn't belong to either of you. HTH.

In that case, tell the Council she’s taking the piss. They’ll have heard it all, trust me.

They have people crying down phones about bin related grievances related to their neighbours.

So did you pay the 2nd subscription?

When you did it last year, did she put her bin at your house since you have 2 collections booked? Or was it outside her own house?

If you havnt actually paid the second year, and you’re not out any money then the only concern I’d have is that they wouldn’t empty your bin and would empty hers instead, if you’ve got 2 sitting outside your house with only one paid for.

Do you really want to fall out with your neighbour over an empty bin that didn’t cost you anything? It’s guaranteed to escalate further if you get petty over it.

It’s different if you are actually planning on continuing the subscription for both bins and using it yourself, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

My concern is that she tries to have it emptied and it's registered to me with no paid subscription

I don't understand why you want the bin back? It won't be emptied as the fee hasn't been paid for this year so it's quite a pointless bin. Perhaps she intends to opt in next year and can use it again then.

My council aren't arsed about taking back garden waste bins, but if they come knocking you can just explain its in your neighbours garden

Hence tell her that the council contacted you to ask if you are renewing your two bin subscriptions and tell her that you responded saying only one and they are asking for the other bin back. If she's awkward about it just say that you'll report her to the council.

I've renewed my subscription for one bin and last year they stood side by side for collection as she lives next door

They won't collect it, my only concern is that she trys to hid yours on bin day so they empty hers instead.

I'd be keeping an eye out when collection's start again.

We are a SE London borough and if you stop paying for your garden bin they expect it back. It is their bin.

Just seen your update, if she puts it out without paying they will just ignore it. They won't be pursuing you. Does your council issue stickers for the bin so they can see which one needs emptying?

Can you report it stolen @ForZanyTraybake

Don’t argue with her any more - just don’t renew the second bin. Wait for her to put it out then either let the council take it back or hide it away until they can collect.

Here they give you a sticker, specific to the year, to put on the bin. If the bin doesn’t have the sticker they just don’t empty it - they literally just don’t touch it. (Last year some houses’ stickers were delivered late, so there was much complaining on the street WhatsApp about unemptied bins.). Does yours not do similar?

This is only the second year so I don't know if I'll receive a sticker but we didn't last year

They won't take it if there is no subscription paid. They can scan the bins so they know which ones are paid for. There will be no come back on you, it's fine.

They don't issue stickers in our area, they just scan the bin.

Ours also says that but it means two households sharing one garden waste bin and cost.

On our council website although you pay for the bin originally it states that it's still the property of the council, which IMO is a bit cheeky..

We have stickers that have our house name/number printed on and sent out by the council once you've paid for a year's subscription that you put on your bin.

Even so if you don't pay you don't get your bin emptied, they have details on an IPad like device in their cab that gives all the addresses of households that have paid..
If you put your bin out without having paid they can and will empty it and take the bin away.

Yes they might empty her bin and not yours. I would tell a white lie. Say the council
have been in touch about collecting the bin. Then take the bin.

Then stick your house number on your bin, and it will be emptied. They’ll either empty hers or they won’t but at least yours will be as the subscription is at your address.