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Reported to social services

278 replies

Badwowwow · 13/01/2026 12:36

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?!

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Feyra777 · 13/01/2026 16:47

mindutopia · 13/01/2026 12:48

We are a family of 4 and have had loads of extra rubbish over Christmas, just like every year, but I’m struggling to imagine how you could possibly have so much rubbish that it’s become a safeguarding issue. 😳

Yes, it’s a pain. The bins are delayed a day or two each week, but they still get collected. If your bins haven’t been collected in weeks, you need to call and report a missed collection. They will send them out to collect it for you. Surely, your neighbours must be having the same issue.

And yes, unfortunately, if your bins get ripped open, you need to go pick that up. I don’t know that having 4 children is a good enough excuse to not pick up your rubbish. I mean I only have 2, but I also have cancer and am in a lot of pain, but I wouldn’t let my rubbish blow around everywhere. Take the kids outside, everyone put their waterproofs on, and make a family game of it to tidy up.

Edited

Search up bin removals in your area

I use one called Bukka Waste, ( our council only does our general household once a month ) Bulla charge £14 for emptying a bin and £4 for medium sized bin bags x

Don't worry about social, I know someone who was reported to social services for the state of her house with her kids inside and she got a free skip!

femfemlicious · 13/01/2026 16:48

I feel your pain. We have bi weekly collection and half sized bins😱. I am overwhelmed with rubbish!. The torn bin bag has happened to me too. People end up dumping rubbish on the streets!. I have had to do this once too!

BeOchreDog · 13/01/2026 16:50

Crinkle77 · 13/01/2026 16:06

I'm not talking about bin bags full, just a carrier bag so as not to arouse suspicion.

It is still fly tipping, our council will fine you if you are caught or they find any named household waste in the public bins.

Interested in this thread?

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Soontobe60 · 13/01/2026 16:52

Badwowwow · 13/01/2026 14:15

If I say no consent do you know what will happen? I just think this was clearly a nasty referral and don’t want that down on our school record.

They do t need permission off you to speak to the school but they can’t speak to your children without it.

Starlight7080 · 13/01/2026 16:53

It is ridiculous. It needs to be weekly.
I brought another bin myself online. And they empty it . Noone has ever mentioned it .
I just store them in the alley way down the side of my house so noone can see I have 2 .

beAsensible1 · 13/01/2026 16:54

night before pack up as much paper type rubbish in large plastic bag and drop it in a bin on your school or work run in the morning. leave it at the front door the night before so you don’t forget.

take bag with you and put it in the bin outside work. Even if they’re full, put it next to it as they get done regularly. Put some on the local business collections when they leave them
outside to be collected overnight.

I know this isn’t the best solution, but trying to offer some creative solutions to get on top of it and out of the way to improve the situation temporarily.

most London councils do bulky waste collection for £15

Soontobe60 · 13/01/2026 16:58

Friendlygingercat · 13/01/2026 15:24

If the people who reported you have empty bins then dump some of your rubbish in theirs under cover of darkness! Will serve them right for being snitches. I hate bloody snitches.

Even if someone has a safeguarding concern? It’s a shame there weren’t more snitches looking out for Victoria Climbie 😢

Negroany · 13/01/2026 17:00

acounsellorsopinion · 13/01/2026 13:20

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

It does seem a waste, but it's quite annoying (someone in my street is doing it to me) because you don't know if they are following the rules properly, and if they put the wrong things in you could get in trouble/fined.

The other evening I put it out, but forgot I hadn't done the inside bins, so I did them all and went to put it in my bin, and it had been filled to the top, I could barely get my stuff in. It had only been out an hour. Buggers don't even bring it in for me either! Whoever they are.

I'm looking for a gravity release lock for mine. I wouldn't have minded if someone had asked me so I could check they wouldn't put the wrong stuff in.

Soontobe60 · 13/01/2026 17:00

pouletvous · 13/01/2026 15:33

SS dont have time for that

report the missed collection to the council and they will come abd get it

That’s literally their job- to ensure safeguarding is followed.

DeftWasp · 13/01/2026 17:05

Badwowwow · 13/01/2026 12:52

I have a big bin they won’t give any more.

You can hire a private bin if you want to, I changed from the council to Biffa last year, its not hat costly and I have a huge red bin that takes everything, collected fortnightly.

potenial · 13/01/2026 17:08

If it's something they've noticed, then it can be a sign of other things, and Social Services may be interested.
Not saying this is applicable for you, but a front garden full of rubbish can be an outwardly visible sign of neglect, much like 'kids that are always dirty' might also get reported - may be from neglect, or may be that a neighbour sees the kids when they're out playing in their assigned getting muddy clothes, and on the walk home after they've been round the woods! Can feel very 'someone being a busy body' for something reported, but if there was a case of abuse or neglect, and school have said 'not had clothes that fit for a while' and a neighbour has said 'outside the house is a tip' and another neighbour has said 'The kids are out in the back garden really late' it can add up to a worrying picture, which SS would be right to investigate, and then determine whether any support is needed! This is also probably why school are SS first point of contact for most investigations, as they see kids day in day out, know what parents are like, and are able to build up more of a full picture.

In case you received any further contact, have you got evidence where you've reported missing collections? But I imagine that, SS will contact the school, who will comment that they've noticed no signs of neglect, will let them know if the kids come in clean clothes, generally tidy, homework done, fed properly etc, and SS will then write to you and say 'we've contacted the school, who've let us know they've got no concerns about neglect, and we're closing the investigation'.

UncannyFanny · 13/01/2026 17:15

If it’s anything like my neighbourhood some people just don’t use their brains when putting stuff in their bins. Most of the stuff round here that ends up spilling out all over the place and overflowing could easily have been broken up much smaller and packed far more neatly into the bins but people just can’t be bothered. There’s a block near me with enormous metal bins which were spilling out everywhere and one of the residents re packed it with some gloves on and made enough space for another weeks rubbish for the whole block. That’s how much space they were all wasting.

LBFseBrom · 13/01/2026 17:21

I'm sorry you've been reported to SS, that was mean. However I am sure nothing will come of it.

The answer to your problem is - get another bin. Two bins would probably accommodate a fortnight's rubbish.

RedToothBrush · 13/01/2026 17:33

Badwowwow · 13/01/2026 12:58

Well they obviously did care to call me about it 😢

They have to follow up a report. Its their job.

If its a malicious report they'll talk to you for about ten mins and that'll be it.

Social services aren't going to do shit. Honestly. They aren't demonic child snatchers.

silverwrath · 13/01/2026 17:36

Negroany · 13/01/2026 13:02

To prevent issues in future, use a bin compressor:

https://amzn.eu/d/cqTlLhp

Mixed reviews. Many are Chinese sellers.

Plus I'd be concerned that after compression, the contents of the bin may get stuck.

LiveToTell · 13/01/2026 17:42

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/01/2026 15:36

Evidently just spare cash to some people.

Not just that but skips around here are about £200+

Flaked · 13/01/2026 17:45

Badwowwow · 13/01/2026 16:46

i went on the school run and took some pics of my local area on my walk. when i said loads of people round here have too much rubbish i wasnt lying this is all over my borough. so ive clearly been targeted and not over “concerns about my children” these pics are from a short 10 minute school run.

But what about a photo of what was left outside your house @Badwowwow ?

How was the call left with SS?

Badwowwow · 13/01/2026 17:47

Flaked · 13/01/2026 17:45

But what about a photo of what was left outside your house @Badwowwow ?

How was the call left with SS?

Edited

You want me to put my address online ok no one is going to do that! If anyone knows me they will recognise the area.

OP posts:
Badwowwow · 13/01/2026 17:48

LiveToTell · 13/01/2026 17:42

Not just that but skips around here are about £200+

I looked and it was £300

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Flaked · 13/01/2026 17:49

Badwowwow · 13/01/2026 17:47

You want me to put my address online ok no one is going to do that! If anyone knows me they will recognise the area.

You don’t need to show your address.

Just the rubbish.

as you managed to do above for other properties

Barbie222 · 13/01/2026 17:49

Ariela · 13/01/2026 13:15

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?

Oh, for goodness sake! Kids no longer at home, a freezer big enough to freeze food waste so it can be collected 2x a year (?!?) and a horse eating veg scraps? You’re very far from being in a position where you can comment helpfully for the OP, who’s a single parent of 4 in London. This feels very much like those competitive undereating Mumsnet posts, as well as being massively tone deaf.

Badwowwow · 13/01/2026 17:51

Flaked · 13/01/2026 17:49

You don’t need to show your address.

Just the rubbish.

as you managed to do above for other properties

Those are on the street!

OP posts:
Badwowwow · 13/01/2026 17:51

None of those items are on anyone’s property they have been fly tipped, I will not show you a picture of my property.

OP posts:
Princessconsuelabananahammock9 · 13/01/2026 17:52

Badwowwow · 13/01/2026 17:51

Those are on the street!

You can’t just take a pic of your bins?

Can I ask what the inside of your house looks like? Is there any truth to it being unsafe?

Badwowwow · 13/01/2026 17:54

Princessconsuelabananahammock9 · 13/01/2026 17:52

You can’t just take a pic of your bins?

Can I ask what the inside of your house looks like? Is there any truth to it being unsafe?

They never said my inside was unsafe or unclean which it isn’t and neighbour has never been inside my house none of them have. This was about my garden which is what the SW said, not my house.

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