A refuse collector and self-procliamed ‘binfluencer has issued guidance to all ‘Karens’ who complain to binmen when their rubbish isn’t collected – even though it’s their mistake
Alan Johnson Social News Reporter
18:01, 15 Jun 2026
A refuse collector has warned of a common mistake many UK residents make with their bins (stock)(Image: Tosh Lubek via Getty Images)
When it comes to waste collection, there are countless blunders UK residents can make which result in bins being left full. Whether it’s simply putting them out too late or disposing of the wrong type of rubbish, bin crews have the final say on what gets collected.
Ashley, who goes by the No1 Binman on social media and describes himself as a ‘binfluencer’, regularly shares his rubbish expertise with more than 50,000 followers. In his latest clip, he highlighted a common mistake made by residents on his round – who then proceed to point the finger at staff.
“When Karen screams at you for missing her bin… but she put out the wrong bin,” he penned in a caption.
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The post prompted one TikTok user to offer their own handy tip on avoiding the same pitfall.
“How can you get it wrong?” they asked. “Every street has one of those neighbours who’s memorised the bin calendar, you always follow their lead!”
A second user concurred: “I never remember what bin it is so I wait for my neighbours to put theirs out so I know.”
While a third had a straightforward message for all the ‘Karens’ out there: “Be nice to the binmen and they are nice to you, not hard.”
Ashley has previously shared his “brilliant” response to those who tell him to hurry up while on his rounds. Being a refuse collector is no easy feat – it’s a physically demanding role requiring early starts throughout the year, come rain or shine.
Despite freezing temperatures and torrential rain, or sweltering heat, bin collectors must carry out their duties as essential workers. Ashley recently took to TikTok to cheekily share how he typically responds to those urging him to “hurry up” during his rounds.
The footage shows him sitting in the front seat of a van, dancing and miming along to Belinda Carlisle’s 1989 classic (We Want) The Same Thing. Specifically, the lyrics: “We dream the same dream, we want the same thing; ooh. We dream the same dream, we want the same thing, ooh.”
Text overlaying the video provided additional context, where Ashley explained: “When you want the binmen to hurry up. We always want to hurry up so we can go home!”
Across the UK, most local authorities operate a standard colour-coded system. Nevertheless, it’s worth checking your council’s particular waste collection guidelines as requirements may differ between regions.
A standard guide to recycling bins:
Mixed recycling (usually blue or green bins): Accepts cardboard, newspapers, magazines, empty plastic bottles, food/drink cans, and glass bottles or jars. It won’t accept crisp packets, soft plastic films, and polystyrene.
Food waste (usually brown bins or kitchen caddy): Accepts fruit and vegetable scraps, meat, bones, teabags, and eggshells.
Garden waste (Usually Brown or Green Bins): Accepts grass cuttings, weeds, flowers, and small branches.