Reported to social services

[Badwowwow]

My local authority went on to fortnightly collections and since then I have struggled so much with rubbish! I have 4 kids and there is too much to last 2 weeks! I don’t have a car so can’t take it anywhere myself and can’t dump it anywhere. So because of this and it being Xmas I have had extra rubbish! A few times the foxes have torn the bags open if it’s not in the bin and I clean it but still left with additional rubbish as my local authority won’t collect any additional rubbish and will only collect what’s IN the bin. I have admitted this is a struggle for me as sometimes bin collectors don’t turn up then I’m left with a situation where the rubbish hasn’t been collected for even longer. Well someone has reported me to SOCIAL SERVICES!! Because of this, Social services! Really! I’m so upset that someone would do this. What will happen now?!

I'd ask them if you can use their bin!

I really don't understand that you can create so much rubbish! I know our household is light these days because the kids are mostly no longer at home other than the holidays, but I put out a box half full of recycling most or every other week. Food waste 2x a year, and general waste about once a month sometimes longer. So far this year they had 1 food waste bin (turkey bones) and 1 recycling bin!

Almost everything can be recycled these days.
Plastic - anything that comes in the post that comes in a plastic bag, I cyt the corner open carefully to extract the goods, then stuff EVERY bit of soft plastic in the hole and keep squishing it in, till the bag is solidly full, that then goes to the supermarket for recycling they have a bin by the door.
Paper - flatten every box, in the recycling
Plastics & tins - flatten before recycling
Food scraps (not eaten by dog/horse - we have one loves swede) are composted (if veg), if not are frozen in a bag to go in the food waste bin
Glass - we drive past a bottle bank
Nappies - consider terry squares for at home and really cut the waste. Potty train as early as possible get them to copy the older child that uses the toilet, most kids if you talk to them get the idea and want to try before 12-15 months esp if they've one to copy, If not, fill a separate bag with these and squish the air out well before putting in your waste bin.

Do you take a broom to the bin and squish down to get more in like my neighbour does (she has masses of waste and doesn't recycle plastics I know) ?
Can you take a car full to the tip?

You need to work to reduce what you’re putting in it then

As I said it’s due to missed collections mainly leaving me with extra.

I don’t drive unfortunately otherwise this wouldn’t be a problem at all.

She’s the one who reported me so no thanks. She’s ignored me since the day I moved in anyway even when I’ve said hello to her so I don’t say anything to her anymore.

I was going to suggest this! I use a neighbours if needed and they are ok with it as I tie my bags tightly. I also see some people out early hours checking other peoples bins to see if they can put any of their rubbish in without anyone noticing, always makes me laugh. Either way it seems a waste if there are empty bins out there doesn't it

You could focus on reducing your rubbish. Swap tinned foods for frozen. Order less online. choose loose veg rather than packets, dry foods in plastic rather than cardboard boxes.

Sort and put all paper, card, plastics, glass and tins in the recycling bins. Food waste goes in the food bin. What does that leave? There are two of us, and we take 10 weeks to fill the black bin.

Don't worry about SS. They are swamped, and your dcs are safe and well cared for. They won't give you a second look.

It’s only my sister that drives and there is absolutely no way on earth she’d have rubbish in her car.

Our bins are every three weeks, it's a nightmare but when we've got excess, I bundled it up, throw it in the car and drop it at the tip. Can't stand rubbish lying around.

You can order additional blue bins. I have three. I have a recycling box in EVERY room and I just about manage like this. I don't have as many children but I do have lots of animals that create a lot of rubbish. Also, if you double bag your rubbish freshly and put a call out on your local area Facebook group, someone might come and pick it up when they do a tip run. Also, if you pop your non recyclable rubbish in carrier bags, you can dispose of it in your nearest public bin.

Did you report it when the collection was missed? When ours has been missed in the past, it can be reported on the council website and then they do a special trip to collect the road that was missed.

SS will check how your dc are doing in school. If they are clean, clothed appropriately and looking healthy. They will come and check your living conditions. If everything is they will close the case.

they just have to be sure there’s no neglect or to see if you need extra support.

I fostered for many years. I’ve looked after children whose homes were infested with mice from rubbish that had built up inside and outside the home. The parents weren’t coping. So it does happen and definitely needs to be looked into.

Most councils allow you to report missed bin collections on their website. If the council haven't collected due to the weather or staff sickness, then as long as you report it, they will usually empty the bins. I'm assuming you haven't missed any collections due to not putting your bin out in time? Ours have to be out by 7 am on the day of collection. We usually put ours out the night before. I know with Christmas, most councils tend to run behind, so the bin collection day changes from the normal day.

Most areas now have bin collections every 2 weeks - alternating between normal rubbish and recycling. Some areas have food waste bins as well as green bins for garden waste. So your collection frequency isn't so uncommon. Our council will only take the rubbish in the bin, no other bags, that won't fit, again this isn't uncommon.

Buy a storage bin, so keep any extra bags off the ground and contained. Gradually start adding one per week to your normal collection. The alternative is to pay for someone to take the extra rubbish you have to the local tip, if you don't have anyone who can do this for you.

Have you reported to the council that your bin hasn't been emptied? What about other people in your road, presumably if your bin was missed, so were others? You can't be the only person with lots of extra rubbish. If you are, then either other people have taken theirs to the tip or you have missed a collection.

I know it can be difficult with a large family, Christmas and then missed collection but are you doing everything you can to help the situation?
Recycling as much as possible, making sure the bin is packed down etc.
If you don't have access to a tip, councils can make 1-off collections for additional rubbish and/or bulky items.

I ask as every bin day I see bins overflowing, recycling mixed with ordinary waste, things such as milk containers, drinks cans etc just put into the bin without being flattened (and thereby taking up valuable space) or a single large item (or item of packaging) practically filling a bin all on its own.

If there are a few of you having the same problem with excess rubbish could you all chip in and hire a man with a van to do a tip run for you?

Other people on the road have cars, the only one who doesn’t is me and the neighbour who I suspect reported me and like I said she is elderly and lives alone so probably has limited rubbish. The way the street is laid out I know it was her. My neighbours down the road have cars although sometimes they do have extra rubbish but it’s usually gone quick as I assume they take it to the tip

Not on my direct road but there’s lots of fly tipping in the area since they put in fortnightly collections.

I struggle with rubbish too and there’s only 3 of us. Christmas has been a nightmare, my recycling bin was emptied a few days ago and is already full again. Luckily I can drive so I can’t take rubbish to the tip but if I didn’t drive I would probably be drowning in cardboard boxes and bottles.

I wouldn’t worry about social services, you have nothing to hide. Just because there’s rubbish outside your home it doesn’t mean your house is a mess.

How do you know it’s your neighbour?

Have your reported the missed collections? Here you need to tell the council within 24 hours of the missed collection, they'll then come round again a few days later.

Teach your children to sort the waste according to the handy guide the council pops through your letterbox/has on their website. It should include food waste, paper/plastic/glass etc recycling - possibly also batteries, clothes, small electricals.

It'll also teach them to reduce waste - the less waste, the shorter the chore.

They said it was (obviously didn’t say which one but isn’t hard to work out)

Yes they said they will get round to it but have been short staffed.

I’m sorry that you have the stress of social services on top of the rubbish issue. Social service so have to respond to reports but I would be very surprised if they took it further. Report missing collections to your local ward councillor (details on your council website) and ask what they intend to do about it or if someone can help your clear the rubbish. You may have a local election coming up this year and they are more
likely to want to take action.

Ours is monthly. Recycling fortnightly in between. Nobody has rubbish strewn everywhere.