An experienced binman has shared that one thing should never go in your recycling bin, despite being a plastic – and putting it in the wrong bin could result in your collection being ignored
He shared why it’s important to put things in the right bin(Image: Jam Press/@theno1.binman)
A refuse collector has revealed that there’s one item which should never be placed in your recycling bin, despite being made of plastic. If you choose to ignore this guidance, there could be significant repercussions, including your bin being left unemptied by waste collection teams.
Ashley, who has more than 13 years of experience in the waste management sector, regularly provides guidance to his followers to help them gain a clearer understanding of what’s allowed when disposing of items, and what isn’t.
He clarified the proper disposal method for one particular item after responding to a social media comment, which asked: “What’s wrong with polystyrene being in a bin? Where else is it supposed to go?”
Polystyrene is a commonly used synthetic thermoplastic manufactured from styrene monomers. It comes in two primary forms: a solid, clear plastic employed for consumer products such as CD cases and disposable cutlery, and an expanded foam (frequently referred to as Styrofoam) valued for its lightweight, cushioning characteristics.
Ashley, known as @theno1.binman, stated, simply: “There’s nothing wrong with polystyrene going in the bin, as long as it’s the correct bin.”
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He explained that simply because it’s plastic doesn’t mean it belongs in the plastic bin because “it’s not recyclable” and will therefore be processed differently from materials that can be recycled.
He noted that some people even place it in the paper bin, reasoning that “it comes with cardboard, so it must go in the paper bin”. However, this is incorrect.
“No, it doesn’t,” Ashley fumed, saying: “You can put it in your general waste bin. That is the correct bin to put it in. Some councils let you put it in a bag next to the general waste bin, but check with your council, because not all councils allow that. Some of them used to, and then changed over.”
He did, however, confirm that polystyrene can go in the general waste bin, adding that if your council operates differently, he’d be keen to hear about it.
Ashley rounded off his video by reiterating: “Otherwise, you have to go to a hardware store, and some of them take polystyrene there, but yes, [put it in your] general waste bin only for most councils.”
In the comments section, one viewer wrote: “To be fair, it has to be bagged up in the normal waste bin otherwise it just gets thrown all over the street when it’s emptied.”
Another chimed in with: “In a black bin bag and in the normal bin at the bottom.”
One woman commented: “Where I am, we can’t even put it in our general waste; we have to get rid of it ourselves.” She did not reveal her location.
So, as Ashley advised, it’s worth checking with your local council before disposing of any polystyrene.