Sharing a black bin

[0lly]

This is a bit silly but here goes. I live on my own and recycle my cans etc. in the blue bin which isn't a problem, but the amount of rubbish I get (tea bags and chip paper etc.) is so small it doesn't even fill a carrier bag in two weeks, so what I do is that I wait while the neighbours put their bin out and then I put my carrier bag in one of their bins.

The trouble is my neighbours don't like it and sometimes I come out of my front door to find a pile of rubbish on my doorstep.

My questions are these
1. Am I doing wrong? I admit I haven't asked them.
2. Am I committing an offence?
3. Are my neighbours committing an offence by littering. As I understand it bins are there to have rubbish put into them, but to take rubbish out and put it by someone's front door surely has to be an offence. They even put rubbish on my step that is not mine.

I feel I would like to stand my ground and I had an enormous row with them yesterday because two of them like to think they own the drive and I feel that if I give into them, my life won't be worth living.

The bin men simply tip the rubbish out of one bin into another anyway and then simply empty the one bin into the back of the lorry.

What course of action do you think I should take, I could use my bin but it seems so silly and I am 68 years of age but fairly fit. Answers appreciated.
Thanks.

[snags]

BM: are you still creeping out to your bin at midnight so your neighbours can't see how many empty bottles are going in there? ;-p

[0lly]

The maisonettes share bins, and I believe all bins belong to the council and not the householder. I do not claim ownership of my bin and anyone can use it if they have too much for their own bin. It just seems silly to put such a small amount into a large bin.

By the way I do not "sneak" it in, it takes two week to fill a carrier bag and I simply take it out on bin day. If I left it on the pavement the bin men would not take it.

[Barmaid]

Damn, busted.

[Mamyalynne]

The thing that has caused annoyance here is simply the failure to ask in the first place.

[2sp_]

0lly, I understand that it seems silly to put such a small amount in a separate bin, BUT it is causing friction so why don't you just use your own bin?

Seems that the ill feeling between you and your neighbour goes deeper than this bin issue?

[craft1948]

You're 68 and cut the hedges and clear the drive..............respect!!

[jackthehat]

It would be simpler if you pop your carrier bag into you own (designated) bin and then take it to the kerb, etc whenever it is full.

Your neighbours obviously object to your present solution. Is it worth the hassle?

[Barmaid]

I don't think it matters strictly who "owns" the bin. The fact is the Council has "loaned" a bin to number 56 for the use of that property, it should only be used by that property.

And anyway, your neighbours don't like it. So whilst it does seem silly, I'd take the view it wasn't worth the hassle upsetting the neighbours.

[0lly]

If I waited untill my bin was full It would take at least six months.

[jackthehat]

Actually, seeing as the bin-men don't get paid on a piecework-basis, there is nothing to stop you putting out your bin with a miniscule amount of rubbish in it

[0lly]

The trouble with putting a minuscule amount of rubbish in a large black bin is that it is a long drive shared by six houses and the bin is much heavier and more cumbersome than a carrier bag.

[gingejbee]

Olly: you've asked for people's advice but seem to want to ignore it by coming up with reasons for carrying on as you are!

[cazzz1975]

I think you need to take it on the chin and use your own bin

[snags]

You can make as many excuses as you like but you shouldn't be doing it, so if you decide to continue, expect your neighbour to continue to dump your crap back on your doorstep :-)

[jackthehat]

Is it not on wheels?

A wheelie-bin containing a miniscule amount of rubbish is hardly comparable to the labours of Sisyphus for a healthy active 68-year old who clears driveways and cuts hedges.....

[Barmaid]

You sound in rude good health given your hedge cutting and snow clearing duties! I 4/5ths empty wheelie bin should prove no problem (even if it is a bit of a pain the nether regions).

[2sp_]

Sorry, but if you're fit enough to cut all the hedges and clear snow from the drive, you should be able to put your bin out.

As you've said, it's not as if it would be full.

[0lly]

What I am looking for, and it isn't happening on here either is a bit of neighbourliness. See, you all jump to the attack.

[cazzz1975]

some people are just not neighbourly, did you ask any of your neighbours especially could you put your rubbish in their bin?

if they replied no, then you have to accept that your neighbours are not going to change and to use your own bin that was provided for you.