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.

[Barmaid]

No one is attacking! You asked for answers, we are giving you the benefit of our opinion. If you think that disagreeing with you is attacking, you've clearly not spent much time in News.

If the neighbours don't like it, they don't like it.

[jackthehat]

You should have said that you only wanted answers from people agreeing with you.....

[gingejbee]

If you want neighbourliness.....you'll only get it from YOUR neighbours.

[2sp_]

No one is attacking you, 0lly, I'm sorry you feel that.

You asked what we thought you should do. We gave you answers based on what we felt would be the best course of action for you to take.

If you don't like our advice, you don't have to take it.

Neighbourliness works both ways. You didn't ask your neighbours before you stared using their bin. This could all have been avoided if you had.

[vodkancoke]

It's hardly "neighbourliness" by you flinging your rubbish in your neighbours bin without asking them! You can't just presume that will be ok. It would be more neighbourly if you had explained your situation and asked them the question.

[boxtops]

Apologies for the word "sneak", olly - but I agree with the others, use your own bin - we often put ours out when it's only a quarter-full.

Barmaid is right - the bins are issued by residence, and some of them have microchips in the lid identifying who they are issued to. The person the bin is issued to is responsible for the contents.

[0lly]

It's like this, one good turn deserves another and if that is the way it is then they can say goodbye to any help from me. Seems like we live in a rotten society. :-(

[Barmaid]

And if you want neighbourliness, perhaps you should have *asked* before putting your rubbish in their bin.

[jackthehat]

By all means, withdraw your labour........but use your own bin, too.

[cazzz1975]

I would find it quite rude if someone decided to regularly dump their rubbish in my bin, good manners would be to ask and be courteous whatever the reply.

[Mick-Talbot]

See, you all jump to the attack.

Really?

I can not see how you have a problem, as JTH has said ...if you can cut all the neighbours hedges, you can pull a very light wheelie bin.

[albaqwerty]

Cut to the chase, you should have asked your neighbours.
Just because you cut hedges and shovel snow, doesn't automatically mean you have the right to put your rubbish in anyone's bin than your own.

[0lly]

boxtops. If it was like that boxtops, that is a different and fully understandable position and naturally I would not impose.

[Baldric]

I am not your neighbour, so I cannot be neighbourly, you requested answers, you've got quite a few, most stating you are in the wrong, what else can we do?

[anneasquith]

youe neighbours are being very petty ! take your carrier bag to the first pavement bin you see. when going out.

[albaqwerty]

just out of pure nosiness (no malice, spite or attacking in any way shape or form) did you ask your neighbours if it was OK for you to cut their hedges?

[boxtops]

that's the other solution of course, anne - sorted.

[0lly]

The consensus of opinion seems to be to look after number one. OK then but it is a philosophy I don't subscribe to. I will put my small amount of rubbish in my bin and think bad thoughts while I wheel it backwards and forwards and watch the bin-men reach inside my bin and put it in one of my neighbours bins before tipping it in the back of the wagon.

[anneasquith]

high 5 boxy. LOL