When Your Neighbours Use Your Bins without Asking

Starlight8 on 15/11/2017 - 13:11
Last edited 16/11/2017 - 13:06 by 1 other user

Hey Guys,

I was wondering if anyone here has experienced their neighbours using their bins without asking and dumping things into the wrong bins.

I am getting fed up with our neighbours, I'm not sure which neighbour it is - but I'm planning to ask around or even get my Xiaomi camera to film this (if I can actually get it to work -_-")!!

(rant) - I am totally fine if they have the courtesy to ask me but they obviously don't! To make matters worst they seem to be dumping wooden planks with screws into my recycling bin - its like the got lazy etc (they even wheeled our green/tree bin out a few weeks ago and filled it to the rim). Also last night my husband went to check our bins and took all the things that weren't in the correct bin out and chucked it next to the bin. Today as we woke up and went out to check our bins - everything was gone! (end rant)

Do you guys have any strategies to deter your rude neighbours from doing this?

Thanks for reading :)

Home & Garden

Comments

  • boomramada on 15/11/2017 - 13:15
    +11

    Contaminating the recycle bin, that's a no no!!
    Bikies ?:)

    • Starlight8 on 15/11/2017 - 13:19
      +2

      I know its so rude and so bad for the environment!

      • boomramada on 15/11/2017 - 13:31
        +6

        Not just that, all the hard work you did to separate the recyclable.
        Find who is doing it, and talk to them. Process of elimination, usually the one which has full bins.

        • juventino on 17/11/2017 - 23:33
          +2

          or the one with empty bins :)

      • dangerdanger on 16/11/2017 - 08:53

        Which bin do wooden planks go in? Greens bin?

        • iDroid on 16/11/2017 - 09:59
          +7

          Wooden planks go to hard refuge collection or the local council dump.

      • Tilly12 on 25/08/2023 - 12:12

        I have a problem too wuth self entitled neighbours get a lock if they keep doing it and talkjng fails

    • OzzyOzbourne on 16/11/2017 - 18:22
      +3

      And guess who the council will fine unless you can prove your innocence!

  • oscargamer on 15/11/2017 - 13:16
    +5

    the trauma……….

    you could put a lock on your bins and unlock them 10 mins before garbo comes along

    • Starlight8 on 15/11/2017 - 13:20

      I would love too, but I'm never around - the neighbours probably noticed hence why seem to do it either late late at night or in the early hours of the morning :(

    • OzzyOzbourne on 16/11/2017 - 18:23

      Most people at work when they come

  • bobbified on 15/11/2017 - 13:34
    +28

    One of the things we do as human beings is talk to each other.

    • Starlight8 on 15/11/2017 - 13:38
      +2

      haha in a perfect world, it would be nice if they asked us and also sort out the rubbish in the correct bin opposed to dumping things into any bin that is empty and letting us take the fall -_-

      • djkelly69 on 15/11/2017 - 13:48

        If they don't sort their rubbish when they are sneakily using someone else's bin, imagine what their own bin is like!

        • Starlight8 on 16/11/2017 - 17:27

          point taken!

        • goraygo on 16/11/2017 - 21:20

          Actually you have people who look after their turf and when come to others, they don’t give a crap. I reckon that’s the majority!!! ;)

    • neonlight on 16/11/2017 - 13:08
      +7

      You will find them unreasonable, inhuman, and probably would rob you or take advantage of you after having a chat.

      You can't choose your neighbours, it is possible relationships with them turn sour and they do even worse things to you.

      1) Most people who just dump rubbish in your bins is either they have too many people living at their premise, generate too much rubbish don;t want to pay a higher fee for another bin

      2) illegal boarding houses, taking advantage of neighbours. Over occupied with students and tenants

      3) Neighbours who feel like it is all fair game when its out on the kerb. Can't be bother arranging council cleanup. Laziness or being a cheapstake

      4) Possible bargain hunters in this fashion to not purchase or have a bin at all under council fees and just make sure of other peoples bins for their own sakes.

    • OzzyOzbourne on 16/11/2017 - 18:28
      +4

      Yes because someone who dumps crap in your recycle bin is just the sort of person to listen to reason and see the error of their ways. Everyone is perfectly reasonable and they are probably not aware of what they are doing lol! Which planet is this again?

      I would try dog poop, oil, paint etc under the lid handles

  • scrimshaw on 15/11/2017 - 13:35
    +4

    Bring up the issue at your next strata meeting.

    • Starlight8 on 15/11/2017 - 13:36
      +1

      Hi, I live in a house so its going to be neighbours that surround my place x

      • scrimshaw on 15/11/2017 - 13:42

        I see, makes sense. In that case you've just got to catch them once, then tell them if their bin is too small they have to upgrade theirs (and pay the higher garbage disposal fees). .

        If you're lucky that your neighbours are honest people that are open to discussion they might agree to stop being Rubbish Santa Clauses and putting un-recyclable crap into your bins, if unlucky you'll need a physical deterrent such as a bicycle lock and chain or some other deterrent. Some discussion here

        If you need help with setting up Xiaomi cameras I could probably assist you

        • Starlight8 on 15/11/2017 - 16:52

          Thanks for that I shall read that.

          Do you install security cameras (in Sydney)? I'm thinking its probably a better idea to invest in a few real ones now haha..

        • ssx on 16/11/2017 - 12:31

          don't want to hijack the thread, but are xiaomi IP cameras any good for outdoor security?

        • scrimshaw on 16/11/2017 - 12:38

          they're mostly indoor cameras, however Xiaomi is going to release a outdoor / weatherproof version.

          However, someone else has suggested Gravity locks, which seems like a more suitable deterrent.

        • Starlight8 on 16/11/2017 - 17:43

          @ssx:

          Hi there - all good, I bought a xiaomi to leave on my window sill to point outside. So far I cannot work it lol…

        • ssx on 17/11/2017 - 12:45

          @debe:

          lol - thanks for letting me know. Going by your and Domingo's comments, I'll probably steer clear.
          Thanks :)

        • Starlight8 on 17/11/2017 - 13:07

          @ssx: Yeh im currently looking for a wireless camera where I can charge/stick it around my place now. If you know of any, please recommend it to me xx

        • NachoCheese on 17/11/2017 - 23:06

          @debe: what's your budget for security cameras? I'm a security technician in Sydney. Can help you out.

  • dcep on 15/11/2017 - 13:50
    +33

    we need xiaomi smart mi bin

    • pennypincher98 on 15/11/2017 - 14:05
      +6

      Or a $999 iBin with $349 attachment needed.

      • Kangal on 16/11/2017 - 07:52
        +11

        iBin X, starting from $8,999.
        Upgrade to the higher storage model for another $999.

        • pennypincher98 on 16/11/2017 - 08:25
          +2

          higher storage model for another $999

          Omg I lol'd so hard at this

          Does it come with Apple Care in case someone vandalises your bin?

        • Starlight8 on 16/11/2017 - 17:44
          +1

          hahah being a proud ozbargainer - something tells me I will never ever buy this!! :P

    • Starlight8 on 15/11/2017 - 14:12

      YES PLEASE!!!

      • ChickenTalon on 16/11/2017 - 10:01
        +1

        The Xiaomi "smart" bin will probably require the Xiaomi home app. making it just as useless as the cameras.

    • idonotknowwhy on 16/11/2017 - 12:18

      That would be the best! (I assume it would drive out to the curb on bin day).
      Then I'd get notifications at work telling me it's stuck.

  • GetOffMyUnicorn on 15/11/2017 - 13:59
    +25

    This thread is a load of rubbish.

    • Starlight8 on 15/11/2017 - 14:12
      +3

      i love the pun!!

  • HighAndDry on 15/11/2017 - 14:01
    +2

    Put a padlock on it…

    • Kangal on 16/11/2017 - 07:56
      +2

      'Cause if you loved, shoulda put a padlock on it….

    • pennypincher98 on 16/11/2017 - 08:26
      +3

      If you like it then you shoulda put a lock on it :)

  • mangew on 15/11/2017 - 14:07

    sh!ts me

  • Domingo on 15/11/2017 - 14:26
    +7

    or even get my Xiaomi camera to film this (if I can actually get it to work -_-")!!

    I feel you. Got my xiaofang yesterday, some sort of wizardry must be required to get that thing working. It is currently a tiny box that shouts at me in Chinese.

    • Starlight8 on 15/11/2017 - 16:50

      haha i know hey, what are you planning to do with it? I'm hoping my friend can help me work it. If not - i'll just invest in good cameras around my place :)

    • iDroid on 15/11/2017 - 14:36
      +2

      They're putting rubbish in the recycle bin.

      They're inconsiderate (*&^!s.

      Also, this may be petty, but if one household has more rubbish each weak than their bin can handle then they should be paying extra for the disposal (use a tip or private rubbish collection, or do something to reduce their waste). All rate payers pay for the disposal of rubbish, the more rubbish we need to dispose of the more our rates are. So effectively they're getting more than their fair share form their rates.

      Having said this, I don't give a rats if my neighbours put rubbish in my bins - as long as it's the correct bin for said rubbish.

      • Starlight8 on 15/11/2017 - 15:07

        Yeh i know what you mean, at least have the decadency to sort out the rubbish and put it in the correct bin, and not let the homeowner sort it all out :(

  • Yttrium on 15/11/2017 - 14:28
    +22

    Set their house on fire.

    • Cluelessness11 on 15/11/2017 - 14:29
      +2

      Which house is the question for OP. Or she should just burn them all and be the remaining house on the street woohoo no crappy neighbours

      • Starlight8 on 15/11/2017 - 15:07
        +1

        oh trust me, i would if i could HAHAHAH

        Such a waste of time having to empty the bin and sort out all the rubbish that doesnt even belong to us :(

      • airzone on 17/11/2017 - 08:24
        +5

        Process of elimination… Burn one house a week until the problem goes away

  • Cluelessness11 on 15/11/2017 - 14:28
    +1

    HAHAHHA at first when I just read the title of this post, I was thinking geesh OP is so uptight (as I sometimes sneak a rubbish bag into my neighbours bins), however while reading the actual post this enrages me, I hate it when the wrong rubbish goes in the wrong bins and they even went to the effort to wheel out your green waste bin for you and fill it with non green waste!?

    Is there any way for you to keep bins locked in an area until the last minute/super late at night and then ? Have you had a look at the bins around you are they all filled with random crap too?

    • Starlight8 on 15/11/2017 - 14:53
      +2

      HAHAH nah, i'm fine with sharing our bins. We are only a family of two - we dont have much rubbish. What erks me is how inconsiderate they are to put wooden planks with nails out in our recycling bin and old badmintons etc also random things in the green bin when its suppose to be for tree branches and grass.

      My husband has to go into our bins and sort it out as we do not want to get into trouble with the council :(

      • susu abis on 17/11/2017 - 15:36
        -1

        Badmington….hmmm…Whichever neighbour is of Asian descent please tell them to stop putting rubbish in your bins.

    • SirFlibbled on 16/11/2017 - 14:41
      +2

      Try strata living. Our big recycling bin is constantly contaminated (there's only 15 units). Putting up signs and pretty pictures has failed. Some people are simply selfish tools.

      • SuperC on 17/11/2017 - 08:01
        +1

        When i was in an apartment block of 26 units, there was always other stuff in the recycling bins, but the worst was people deciding it was ok to just dump stuff on the floor of the bin room. Whole lounges, broken tv's all dumped in there.

      • Starlight8 on 17/11/2017 - 13:10

        vigilante

  • whooah1979 on 15/11/2017 - 14:32
    -6

    It's free-for-all once the bins are placed at the kerb.

    • GG57 on 15/11/2017 - 14:56
      +1

      That's the rule, yeah?
      So, keep them off the kerb until closer to the collection time (if you can), which should minimise the use by others. That won't stop the annoying dumping into the wrong bins if they are persistent though.

      I'm spoilt, great neighbours that put out / return bins for each other, and plenty of holiday homes with 'spare' bins available. The only problem is at the end of the year / summer when everyone is on holiday, bins are all full, and the 'visitors' don't know the 'local' rules.

      • whooah1979 on 15/11/2017 - 15:55
        +1

        That's the way we see it. We wheel our bins out once a week. Our responsibility ends once we place them at the kerb and starts again when we wheel them back on to our property.

        • Zenyatta on 17/11/2017 - 11:11

          It should matter to you that the correct type of rubbish is placed in the correct bin. How would you feel knowing that an entire truckful of recycling had to be disposed of because one bin contained waste that contaminated the whole lot? A bit of social and environmental conscience please.

        • whooah1979 on 17/11/2017 - 11:32

          @Zenyatta:
          We recycle when possible. What other people is on them.

        • samfisher5986 on 17/11/2017 - 13:56

          @Zenyatta:

          This logic is stupid.

          If someone is going to dispose of rubbish incorrectly, it doesn't make a difference who owns that bin.

        • Zenyatta on 17/11/2017 - 16:38

          @samfisher5986: I think you misunderstood me. What I was getting at is that I would definitely be concerned if I knew people were misusing my bins. I would be going to some lengths to prevent it. I do consider my household responsible for what is left on the kerbside. If someone chooses to put the wrong thing into their own bin, I can't really prevent that - but they might be less motivated to abuse their own bins anyway.

          Also as the OP pointed out, you can also potentially be fined if your bin contains the wrong stuff.

      • Starlight8 on 15/11/2017 - 17:23
        +1

        Yeh i have this one really nice neighbour who wheels our bin in for us each week.

    • OzzyOzbourne on 16/11/2017 - 18:30

      Cool, let me know where your bin are.

      • whooah1979 on 16/11/2017 - 19:02

        it's before the harbour bridge.

  • andrew1879 on 15/11/2017 - 14:38
    +17

    If you really wanted to you could try this product: Gravity opening bin lock

    • Starlight8 on 15/11/2017 - 16:46
      +2

      that looks so cool - I'm thinking of installing cameras around my perimeter. Good deterrence for those pesky neighbors haha

      Thanks so much for that link!

      • Lawagetas on 16/11/2017 - 09:31

        I did this at first to confirm who was dumping in my bins… but some people are absolutely shameless. Might not do enough to deter.
        Good idea to have security cameras regardless anyway.

        • Starlight8 on 16/11/2017 - 10:37

          yeh i was speaking to my husband about walking to our neighbours and having a stern talk to them lol ..he begged me not too lol..

          I agree with you, people can easily deny it -_-

          I was thinking of this as a tempt solution for next weeks garage collection day as I need to find a proper person to install cameras:

          https://www.bunnings.com.au/swann-dome-imitation-camera-with…

          These look quite fun to stick around the perimeter :)

        • Shwayne on 17/11/2017 - 15:30

          @debe: Once you have the footage, then what? You still need to talk to them.

    • wukachuka on 16/11/2017 - 09:09

      Nice solution right there!

    • Lawagetas on 16/11/2017 - 09:28
      +1

      This is exactly what I did
      I had an issue for a while where the apartment next door were dumping stuff into our bins.
      We had to go a private waste disposal company (like Suez, Remondis or Bingo) to get the gravity locks; but the cost for regular bins was only 10% higher (due to GST)
      The recycling bins were cheaper (because their own recycling plants are more efficient according to them), though. So it ended up about the same.
      We called the council and cancelled the waste service through them and just went private after that.
      Pick-up times are different though. So you might look a bit funny rolling your bins out on a separate day.

      • Starlight8 on 16/11/2017 - 10:44
        +1

        oh wow, was yours that bad to actually get a private company?

        People should just mind their own rubbish. You shouldnt have to go that far to deter people -_- whats wrong with people these days?

        I dont think I want to go that far as its only been happening for 3 weeks. I think cameras around the house will be fun so I can see what these pesky neighbours get up to while I'm at work :P

        • Lawagetas on 16/11/2017 - 10:59

          Yeah. It shat me to absolutely no end.
          They basically filled our bins almost completely so there wasn't much left for us.
          And when the red bins were full they'd start dumping into our recycling and green bins.
          The tipping point was when I found fish guts(or something to that effect) in our recycling bins. I had to clean it our or it just stunk the whole place… I should have scraped it together and chucked it at their building haha.
          The problem was/is that the apartment next door doesn't have enough bins for all the tenants. There's 8 units (going by their mailboxes… I don't know how many are actually squeezed in) and only 3 rubbish and 2 recycling.
          I tried raising the point with the council, with the cops, with their strata (non-existent) and with the agents who lease the site. Absolutely got nowhere.

      • samfisher5986 on 17/11/2017 - 13:58
        -2

        Wait so why did you go to all this trouble when you could have just made two holes in your existing bin and stuck a padlock on there?

        • Shwayne on 17/11/2017 - 15:32

          Because the garbage man isn't going to open the padlock to empty your bin.

          The rubbish is also being thrown into the bin prior to collection.

        • samfisher5986 on 17/11/2017 - 16:20
          -1

          @Shwayne:

          Fair enough, I guess its all being thrown in in the 6-8 hours its on the street on rubbish day?

        • Shwayne on 17/11/2017 - 23:53

          @samfisher5986: Which is all well and fine if they put it in the right bins.

        • Lawagetas on 25/11/2017 - 09:51

          @Shwayne:

          Oops. Didn't notice the replies here.

          It was two fold: our bins are on the side of our building and they would stroll into our yard and chuck things in when we weren't home. There's not really room to move them elsewhere and it's a major hassle trying to get them into the backyard.
          Then after the bins are rolled onto the street, others would throw more in.

          And I could probably have hacked it if not that they threw things into the wrong bins.

  • aboabo on 15/11/2017 - 15:35

    I put stuff in council bins left in the street.

    • plowry1977 on 16/11/2017 - 10:36

      I used to do this when our kids were in nappies lol

  • jm48 on 15/11/2017 - 15:40
    +1

    I sometimes put a bag of rubbish in my neighbour's general waste bin.
    I don't put out my own bin because I only have one small bag full.
    Space is tight on my cul de sac, and my neighbour puts their bins in front of my footpath,
    so I think it is fair enough for me to add one bag to their bin.

    • Starlight8 on 15/11/2017 - 16:45
      +5

      Yeh i totally understand it, but I'm certain you have the decency to put it in the correct bin and not the recycling or green bin -_-

      • jm48 on 15/11/2017 - 17:08
        +1

        Yes I sure put it in the right bin.
        Actually I empty my neighbours green waste bin and compost it myself.
        I asked my neighbour first and they said fine.

        • Kangal on 16/11/2017 - 07:57
          -4

          …and you have their permission, right?

        • pennypincher98 on 16/11/2017 - 08:28
          +10

          @Kangal:

          I asked my neighbour first and they said fine.

  • Seraphin7 on 15/11/2017 - 15:55
    -5

    Once your bins are on the street it's fair game. Why anyone would care/even really know this is going on is a bit beyond me.

    That said, if what they are doing is causing your rubbish not to be collected, that's something else entirely. If this is what's going on, I'd be dumping the contents of the bin on their lawn.

    • Starlight8 on 15/11/2017 - 17:20
      +3

      From my understanding if you dump things in the wrong bin you as the homeowner can get into trouble from the council.

      So once you bring out the bins and a random happen to put things into your bin, wouldnt you be responsible too?

      • Seraphin7 on 15/11/2017 - 17:28

        As mentioned, if their behaviour is causing problems with respect to your rubbish collection, then by all means take action to prevent these problems.

        As ever, the context is all important here. If a "random happen to put things into your bin" it will be difficult for the council to enforce any real sanction on you, other than not collecting your bin on the occasion in question. After all, you can't control what randoms do to your bin between you putting it out and it being collected.

        Let's be honest, the bloke collecting your rubbish is either going to take it, or he's not … it's highly unlikely that the contents of your bin are going to be reported. Issues arise when rubbish is left outside a property for days/weeks on end (i.e. dumped), but this does not seem to be the issue here. Even if some sort of report is made, it's a long way from that single report being made to the council doing anything other than sending you a basic letter. This would then be your opportunity to raise the issue with your council and take things from there.

        • veej on 16/11/2017 - 11:38
          +1

          My council puts large orange stickers on bins with incorrect items and refuse to empty them until the issue is rectified.

          Occasionally I do see these stickers on random bins so it is being enforced.

    • smashed on 16/11/2017 - 08:03
      -2

      No it isn't fair game. It is not your bin and you have no right.
      Sometimes I add to my bin after it is on the street.
      Sometimes the bin man doesn't come and you are stuck with a full bin, or somebody overflows your bin and they refuse to take it.
      Sometimes a passerby throws half a cup of coffee in the bin which is disgusting.

      Use your OWN bin.

    • neonlight on 16/11/2017 - 13:04

      Because I put lining and pack everything nicely no juice/sauces and shit come out of them. Where as neighbours don't give a damn and dump everything without properly

      It can make your bin stink like crap and needs regular cleaning?

      So it is definitely an issue

      • pennypincher98 on 16/11/2017 - 19:45
        +1

        dump everything without properly

        I don't think you quite finished that senten

  • stargalaxy on 15/11/2017 - 16:10
    +2

    You should lock up your bin inside the house.

  • airal3rt on 15/11/2017 - 17:17

    Stop using the council rubbish disposal and start exclusively paying to dump everything at the tip. That'll show 'em!

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