A binman has shared advice on where to properly dispose of one particlar food – and it’s not in your food waste or recycling bin as many households believeJess Flaherty Senior News Reporter and Niamh Kirk Lifestyle Writer
09:17, 12 Mar 2026Updated 09:18, 12 Mar 2026
The binman has said this popular food item always ends up in the wrong bin (stock image)(Image: Monty Rakusen via Getty Images)
A refuse collector has shared which common household item should absolutely never end up in your food waste or recycling bin – and it’s something countless families are likely binning wrongly.
Being a binman isn’t a walk in the park, demanding crack-of-dawn starts and gruelling physical labour in all weathers, twelve months a year.
Ashley, who posts content online as The No1 Binman, currently works as a refuse operative and frequently shares videos providing a glimpse into the day-to-day realities of the job, as well as guidance on correct waste disposal.
He’s amassed a following exceeding 160,000 on TikTok – and, in a recent clip, he tackled a question regarding a commonly-used product – chewing gum.
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Ashley said it’s not biodegradable and can be a nightmare to remove(Image: Getty Images)
Speaking straight to camera, 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.”
Next, he tackled the issue of chewing gum wrappers, which are often erroneously tossed into recycling bins.
The dustman clarified: “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.”
Binmen are essential workers keep our neighbourhoods sanitary, neat and pristine. They collect and handle household rubbish, manoeuvring wheelie bins towards massive lorries where they’re lifted and emptied out.
After being loaded into the truck, the rubbish is dragged forwards before being squeezed by a compactor blade to make space for more waste. Refuse operatives also deal with commercial and business rubbish, with separate collections for recyclables.
Council websites offer clear guidance on recyclable items, providing comprehensive lists of suitable products. For paper goods, there are specific rules: “Paper, magazines, newspapers, junk mail, catalogues, phone directories and wrapping paper which is not plastic or metallic.”
Plastic or metallic wrappers – frequently found in chewing gum packaging – must be consigned to general household rubbish. Incorrectly placing items in your recycling bin could lead to your waste being left uncollected.
The refuse collector added: “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.” Local council websites offer detailed advice on the correct disposal methods for various types of waste.