Neighbours bins a mess

[lauras231279]

Not sure what to do in this situation. The house next door has at least 3 different families living in it (some kind of shelter/council housing?) with frequent changes to who is living there. What this is resulting in is very messy bins, which are overflowing, STINK, and are not being collected by the binmen as they clearly have no idea what and how things should be recycled. I went to try to tell them about it, but they had no idea what I was saying as they didn't speak a word of English. I was being very diplomatic but now I'm at a loss. How would you report something like this to the council? Primarily I want the bin smell to go away and not to have to look at mounds of rubbish every time I leave my house.

Ideas?

[puwetter]

We're. Are you based.

[lauras231279]

Not sure it would be a good idea to identify where we are, given that there are families with kids involved etc.

[KestonKid]

I do so sympathise with you. We have a similar problem with next door neighbours who live in two flats sharing the bins. I contacted the council to get leaflets, caddies and green bags delivered but they were left unused on the doorstep. They constantly put things in the wrong bins, dare not think where they put the food rubbish (there must be something surely?) I have in the past sneaked round when they were out and sorted out the mess even washing the stinking bin to the great amusement of my other neighbours who thought I was going to provide a general service. Perhaps the binmen could put a card through the door of such households explaining why the bins are not being cleared

[sheilarose]

Can you find out what language they speak? Then appeal on here for a translator who can explain the rubbish collecting/recycling system to them.

[ruffers]

Have you tried just calling the council rubbish collection people and explaining? They're generally quite helpful in my experience.

020 7525 2000 is the main number and then explain to them.

[lauras231279]

thanks - ill call them as suggested

[dumpertruck]

Grim. There's a gaff like that near TGE on CPR. Hold my breath every time I pass it.

[GinaG3]

I think you can make a complaint via environmental health (rats, smell etc) or try and convince the refuse collectors to come out, they may well be able to put a letter through the door in the occupiers language for next time.

[Penguin68]

If this is a shelter or council housing then your council representative may be able to help - James Barber (amongst others) is responsive - PM him if you don't wish (quite properly) to identify the house in question in public - at least he might be able to find out if it is 'official' council shelter (or if the occupants are being placed there by a council) - then the council itself should be able to respond to your issue. The recycling and rubbish rules are quite arcane (and different for different councils around us) - so it's not surprising that non UK people can't get their heads around them.

[intexasatthe moment]

Perhaps Southwark could produce stickers to go on bins with ticked and crossed pics . Like the leaflets but stick on the bin itself .

[edanna]

Find out who the landlord is - may be a housing association - and contact them?

[jennyh]

I have previously lodged a complaint with the council when I saw bins spilling over etc and they were cleared. The form was on the southwark council website.

[Andyng]

knock on your neighbours door and have a chat how hard could it be?

[Callie]

Andyng Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> knock on your neighbours door and have a chat how

> hard could it be?

original poster said

'I went to try to tell them about it, but they had no idea what I was saying as they didn't speak a word of English. I was being very diplomatic but now I'm at a loss'

[Callie]

As GinaG3 says, get onto the Council Environmental Health, info on Southwark website & report it asap. They should be able to sort it & hopefully have someone who speaks the lingo if they need a chat.

[James Barber]

If the council eco line doesnt help you - and it's a bit chaotic at the moment after mega IT problems - then please do escalate to a councillor so we can organise some help explaining whats required to any new or existing residents.

[intexasatthe moment]

James ,anyone else ,another common scenario is when builders doing up a property or some other third party ( I don't want to malign the builders the majority of whom are professional ) such as clearance of a flat between lettings ,dumps loads of inappropriate rubbish in a bin .They move on and new people move into property with overflowing and unemptied bins .

There have been/still are 3 bins by one of the bus stops in Barry Rd - flies buzzing ,stuff on the ground . If I moved in to such a situation I honestly wouldn't know/have the stomach or strength to set about sorting the bins out .

What's the best course of action - do Southwark have a phone nos to report such misuse while it's happening and somehow ( don't know how ) take the culprits to task ? Or a service which the new tenants can call on for help ?

[Rutolhed]

Give southwark council a call and speak to environmental health dept. They are generally very helpful.

[Willard]

Could you not just get those two "eccentric" ladies to come and empty them for you?

[DulwichVillageLady]

You don't get this in Dulwich village, maybe consider moving to the better suburb.

[robbin]

Look on the bright side - it could be worse - you could have 'ladies' going through them! ;)

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,1341090

[standswithfist]

i'll never forget 4 years ago my neighbours upstairs would not use proper bin bags so food always spilling out of the bin etc. I cleaned it when i saw a maggot trying to climb out. Euuuuuuuuuggggghhhhh!!!!! I nearly vommed on the maggots!!