Allerdale council bin problems: Some get extra bins – but can’t use them

The couple, of Hawkshead Avenue, Workington, were wrongly given two blue-lidded bins in March when the new system was being rolled out.

With limited space, the couple did not have room to store both large bins alongside their general waste and mixed recycling containers.

The couple contacted the council to ask for the bin to be removed.

When it remained at their house, the pair, who had found their mixed recyclables bin too small for their plastic waste, hit upon an idea.

They asked if they could use the second paper bin for their plastics, glass and tins instead of the smaller green bin.

Retired Mrs Barnes, 66, said: “I’d like to use that one as a plastics bin but they said it’s not allowed.”

Instead, she said, she was told to put any surplus recyclables in the general waste bin.

Mrs Barnes, who has arthritis and struggles to crush her recyclable waste small, added: “They keep going on and on about recycling and to be told to put any surplus plastic in the ordinary rubbish bin is just mindblowing.

“I’ve no qualms against the men who come and collect the rubbish. They turn up on time. They’re good lads.”

When asked, the council said it would arrange collection of the surplus bin as soon as possible.

A spokesman added: “We ask all residents to wash and squash their recycling as much as possible to make full use of the space. Using a little warm water when washing plastic bottles, for instance, means it can then be squashed easily and will stay squashed when the plastic cools especially if the lid is reattached.

“Refuse waste, usually collected in a black bin, does not all go to landfill.

“It is processed in a plant near Carlisle where anything that can be recycled is taken out to be reused and most of the remaining waste is processed as Solid Recovered Fuel. Only a small percentage of the remaining waste goes to landfill.”

For more details about what waste can and cannot be put into each bin, visit