A binman has warned households that their bins won't be collected if they put one thing in their recycling bins that doesn't belong there - and it's an easy mistake to make12:30, 21 May 2026Making this big mistake with your recycling bin could mean your rubbish doesn't get collected. Discovering that your bin is still full of rubbish after collection day can be super frustrating, especially if your council collection rules mean you have to wait a fortnight until you get a second chance at having the bin emptied.‌But one binman on social media has claimed that more often than not, the reason your bin isn't emptied is that you've broken one of the rules for collection - even if you don't realise it. Ashley, known online as the "No1 Binman", said there's actually one common thing people put in their recycling bins that often means binmen won't collect their rubbish.‌In a video on TikTok, refuse collector Ashley stated that while it's common and encouraged for households to line their general waste bin with a large wheelie bin liner to keep the waste enclosed, you should never do that with your recycling bin.‌Ashley captioned his video: "When you can't take a recycling bin because it has black bags in it." He added at the end: "Recycling should be loose in the bin."Content cannot be displayed without consentCommenters on Ashley's video were split over his plea for people to stop putting their recycling into black bags. Some said they had no idea that was a rule, while others insisted it was "petty" of binmen to refuse to take rubbish in that case.‌One person said: "This is exactly what is happening in my house! I just shared it with my housemates."But another argued: "It's getting stupid now! They just look for any excuse to do nothing." And a third simply said: "So petty."Black bin bags cannot be recycled, so they should not be used to line your recycling bin. According to London Recycles, if you put your recycling into a black bag and bin crews collect it, they will throw the entire bag into the rubbish, even if the bag is left open - meaning your recycling waste won't actually be recycled.‌What's more, bin bags can tangle in the vehicle hoist of recycling lorries, which can tear and cause litter. Your recycling bin shouldn't need a liner, since anything you put in there should be dry and free of food waste, so there's no need to protect it from pests.Why binmen can refuse to collect your binsThere are several other reasons binmen may refuse to collect your rubbish.One of the most common reasons binmen can refuse to empty your bin is if it's too full and the lid isn't shut. This can also be the case if your bin lid has broken off, as bins must be completely shut in order to be collected.Article continues belowThey can also refuse to collect if your rubbish violates council guidelines, such as containing contaminated recycling, being excessively heavy, or including "side waste" (bags left next to the bin).Additionally, binmen may refuse to collect your rubbish if you put non-recyclable items like food or soft plastics in your recycling bin, although they will often leave a sticker behind explaining the issue.Sometimes, recycling rules can vary slightly in different parts of the country. If you're unsure about anything, visit your council website for further guidance.