A binman has shared the two common food waste bin mistakes people are making that could lead to maggots, flies, and unpleasant smells – and how to fix them07:38, 03 Jun 2026Food waste bins can get gross surprisingly quickly. It only takes a couple of days of leftovers, peelings and tea bags for the warm, damp mix to start breaking down – then the smell hits as soon as you lift the lid.‌In hotter weather, it’s worse: liquids seep to the bottom, residue clings to the sides, and the bin can become a magnet for flies, turning an eco-friendly habit into one of the least pleasant jobs in the kitchen.‌If these problems sound all too familiar, listen up. British refuse collector Ashley – also known as the No1 Binman – posted some of his helpful tips on TikTok.‌He highlighted the two common mistakes people make with their scraps, which can lead to maggots and other unpleasantness. So here's what you should avoid doing...1. Leaving your bin in direct sunlightDepending on which direction your home faces and where your bins need to be placed for collection, this may be somewhat unavoidable.However, Ashley strongly advised people against leaving their food waste bins exposed to direct sunlight for a very good reason.‌He pointed out that numerous food waste bins are manufactured from dark-coloured plastics. The heat absorbed by these plastics can raise the temperature of the food in the bin, causing it to spoil and attract flies.Should these flies then multiply in your bin, it will become infested with maggots, which the refuse collectors must then handle when removing your waste.He stated: "Please stop putting your food waste caddies in the sun. Please don't put them directly in the sun the whole time. Because they cook. Most places have dark colours somewhere on them, and they cook the food inside. You open them up [and there's] flies, maggots, everything."‌2. Placing food waste in the bin without a linerAll food waste must be deposited in a caddy liner before being transferred to your outdoor bin. These liners are biodegradable and compostable, meaning they can be gathered by refuse collectors, and they help to keep your food waste protected from flies.While this may sound like a faff, it could save you a lot of hassle in the future. They help to maintain your bin's hygiene and you won't need to wash them out as regularly.Ashley emphasised that if you don't place your food waste in a liner, the binmen won't clean it out for you. This means that if you fail to clean it yourself, your bin will ultimately cultivate mould, maggots, and other unpleasant germs.Article continues belowHe stated: "If you're going to put your food waste in there, please bag it up. Put it in a bag, newspaper, anything like that."Perfectly fine, not a problem. But don't put it in loose, because then it's going to stink forever until you clean it out. And then you're like, 'I'm not cleaning it out, it stinks'. I know! I smelt it when I was tipping it in!"So please. Not in sunlight, and please bag it up. That's all. And then everyone's happy! The smell goes when we empty it. Winner winner, chicken dinner. Make sure you eat all your chicken dinner, because otherwise it goes in the food waste."