The binman dished out a fact people may not realise.
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Being a refuse collector isn’t for everyone, with dawn shifts and unrelenting manual labour expected of workers, regardless of weather conditions, all year round. These vital workers keep our neighbourhoods sanitary, orderly and presentable.
One binman has revealed which everyday food product must never go in the food waste or recycling bin — and it’s an item many homes could be wrongly disposing.
Waste operatives also deal with commercial and industrial refuse, operating distinct collection routes for recyclables.
Ashley, who posts material online as The No1 Binman, is employed as a refuse collector and frequently uploads clips providing perspective on what the job truly involves, coupled with tips on correct rubbish disposal.
He’s built up a fanbase of over 160,000 on TikTok. In one recent clip, he addressed an enquiry regarding a frequently-used product — chewing gum.
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Addressing viewers directly, Ashley clarified: “What about chewing gum? Good question. Right, this one, it goes in your general waste, if you’re chewing it, finished with it; it goes in the general waste bin.
“It is not biodegradable — that’s why you do not put it in your food waste or your compost bin. It goes in your general waste because it can’t break down and go into the soil or whatever they make the food waste into.”
He then turned his attention to chewing gum wrappers, which many people mistakenly place in their recycling bins.
Ashley explained: “The wrapper for chewing gum, another good one, which would be, because it’s a combination of paper and aluminium. Because of the combination, it doesn’t go in either the recycling bin. It would have to go in your general waste bin.”
Council websites provide details on recyclable items and include extensive lists of acceptable materials.
Regarding paper products, specific guidelines apply: “Paper, magazines, newspapers, junk mail, catalogues, phone directories and wrapping paper which is not plastic or metallic.”
Plastic or metallic packaging commonly used for chewing gum should be thrown away with general household waste. Placing incorrect items in your recycling bin could result in your rubbish being rejected by collectors.
The waste collection operative continued: “If you don’t believe me, get on your council website. They normally have an A-Z list on there. Have a little search up, it will say on there, and it should say, on most council websites, it [chewing gum] will go in your general waste bin.”