Whether you have just had a clear-out in your home, a party or have multiple people in your household, sometimes the regular sized bin issued by the council is not enough
Abigail Nicholson Content Editor
09:59, 24 Apr 2026Updated 10:16, 24 Apr 2026
Many people have issues having too much rubbish for their bin (stock)
A woman left a 9-word note to get her binman to take the wrong colour bin on collection day. With waste only being collected every other week in most areas across the UK, we have all had the issue of having too much rubbish to fit in our general waste or recycling bins every once in a while.
Whether it has just been somebody’s birthday, you’ve done a clear-out in your home, or had a party, there are times when the standard size bin just isn’t enough.
People with access to a car may choose to go to a refuse centre to get rid of their spare waste, while others may choose to put it in a shed or garden and wait until it has been emptied.
Other people, however, may decide to try their luck with refuse workers to see if they can get rid of it all in one go. This was true for one woman, who filled up the wrong colour bin with waste to be collected.
Barbara, who describes herself as a cake business owner and a gypsy wife, left a nine-word note on the bin and watched her home’s CCTV to see what happened next.
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To her surprise, her video showed the binman reading the note before opening the lid of her bin and wheeling it towards the refuse truck.
The woman shared the full nine-word note she wrote to the man, which said “Please empty me, I identify as a black bin”, before signing off with a polite “thank you.”
Barbara said the worker “understood the assignment” while others called him a “legend” when commenting on the video.
One commentor said: “No because I thought I was the only one. Why do they sometimes not take my bin… what am I doing wrong help a young girl out.”
A second said: “Not all heroes wear a cape, some wear a hi viz and grey cap.”
A third said: “He really said okay that’s cool with me and moved along with his day. Love him.”
Another added: “Nooo cause I’ve previously paid mine a fiver lol”
New bin rules in England from August 1
English households could now have as many as four bins and have been notified about six categories of items that aren’t recyclable. Officials warn that misuse of bins could lead to hefty fines.
Bin collectors will be tasked with separately collecting food and garden waste, paper and card, all other dry recyclables, and general rubbish. Any banned items discovered in recycling bins could result in a penalty of up to £400.
The following items are now prohibited from these bins:
candlesdrinking glassesflat glassglass cookware (such as Pyrex)light bulbs and tubesmicrowave platesmirrorsvaseswindow glassceramics, such as crockery or earthenwarelaminated foil, like pet food pouches and coffee poucheselectrical items and batteriesgeneral kitchenware like cutlery, pots and panskettlesironspipesmetal packaging that has contained white spirits, paints, engine oils or antifreezeplastic packaging or non-packaging items labelled ‘compostable’ or ‘biodegradable’plastic bottles that have contained white spirits, paints, engine oils or antifreezebulky rigid plastics such as garden furniture, bins and plastic toyspolystyrene (expanded and high impact) packaging, such as packing beadspolyvinyl chloride (PVC) packagingfood and drinks cartons made of a fibre-based composite (these should be collected in the plastic stream)absorbent hygiene products (AHPs), including nappies, period products and incontinence productscotton wool or makeup padstissue or toilet paperwet wipesanimal beddingbulky waste (including garden furniture and fencing)garden tools or other gardening equipmentplant potsplasticsandsawduststone, gravel or brickstea bags or coffee groundsbranches and trees over a certain size may have to be cut into smaller pieces to follow local guidance