A UK bin man has addressed whether he’s able to tell what is in your bin, and it is a fear that many didn’t even realise until now.
Heading into Christmas, I thought I had enough fears as it is without needing to worry about the bin men judging me for forgetting which bin the cardboard goes in until it’s too late.
The fear of having said something dumb at the Christmas party, the fear of your elderly relative making a racist joke at the dinner table, and now, a fear that bin men can tell what you had for dinner the last night based on your binbags.
New fear unlocked (David Potter/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images)
TikTok account ‘The No 1 Binman’ answers a wide degree of questions people have on the secrets behind binmen.
One account commented on one of his videos asking: “Can you actually tell what’s in the bin whilst being emptied? Like general waste in recycling etc? Or a body”.
Personally, I think the account who posted that should have a warrant out for them immediately, because that is absolutely the type of comment someone who did have a body in their bin would ask.
Alas, the No 1 Binman addressed it as if the commenter wasn’t a nefarious criminal, and said: “No, we can’t tell, because obviously you can see or hear the rubbish going in once it’s in there, there’s nothing you can do once it’s in there.
UK Bin Man on whether they can tell what you put in
Credit: The Number 1 Bin Man via TikTok
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“It’ll just scoop it up and it’s in the back of the lorry. So you have bins what go in the back, they just go in with the thing.
“Normally, we get to the tip and tell them: ‘oh, there’s a bin in the back, can you just pull it out when it comes out.’
“But yeah, if either loads gets contaminated from someone doing general waste, normally the whole load is contaminated, and then it would just get moved across to the general waste.
“So yeah, we can’t tell until we either get back to the tip or see it on the cameras, but then it’s too late.”
Thankfully for anyone panicking, they can’t tell what you put in the bins, but if you do put any general waste in the recycling, none of it can go apparently.
He said that all loads get contaminated if there is any general waste in the recycling (Number 1 bin man via Tiktok)
One comment said: “Every load must get written off as general waste then. No way are 1000s of houses all recycling correctly. Why isn’t recycling just sorted?”
Another said: “So wait, if the recycling lorry gets contaminated with something that can’t be recycled, the whole load is written off as general waste? Wow never knew that, I assumed it was sorted somewhere.”
A fellow binman commented, saying: “As a bin man myself we know the houses that all ways contaminate lol.”
No 1 Binman replied saying: “100%.”
So, while they don’t know exactly what you’ve put in, if you keep f**king it up, they clearly know who’s naughty and nice, so you better watch out.Featured Image Credit: TikTok/theno1.binman/Planet One Images/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Topics: Christmas, Environment, Social Media
Michael Slavin
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Published 15:30 13 Dec 2024 GMT
UK bin man explains what they really want for Christmas and it’s not cheap booze or chocolates
This bin man decided to do Brits a favour and let people know what they really want at Christmas
The gift giving season is finally upon us, and presents are flying about left, right, and centre.
But while you’re stewing over what to buy your family and friends, don’t forget to have a long hard think about what your bin man would like too.
It’s easy to feel generous after a few Eggnogs during the festive period, and our list of people to buy for often ends up growing a lot longer than we would have intended.
Whether you’re purchasing a bottle of bubbly for your kid’s teacher or nipping to your neighbours with a tub of Christmas chocolates, giving to others really does feel good.
However, you might want to be a bit more picky when it comes to selecting a gift for your local refuse collectors, as this bloke says they’re sick of being palmed off with certain items each year.
This bin man has revealed what gifts they are really hoping for off residents at Christmas (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
A fella who dubs himself ‘The No1 Bin Man’ on TikTok revealed what his colleagues are really hoping for when kind locals offer them a prezzie in December.
The UK-based social media user, who boasts 6,918 followers, responded to a woman who enquired about what people in the waste industry ‘would prefer’.
She explained she usually just settles on a box of chocolate to give to her bin men, but suspects they might want something a bit more exciting.
So, the ‘No1 Bin Man’ decided to come to the rescue and be brutally honest about what they think of generic gifts.
He kicked off by explaining that they don’t actually expect people to go to any expense, but there is something which would tickle their fancy if the opportunity arose.
The TikToker explained there is something that he really doesn’t like being gifted (TikTok/@theno1.binman)
The TikToker said: “Can I have a bacon sandwich or a cup of coffee? Sorted, Merry Christmas.”
Clearly enamoured by the Christmas spirit, he then decided to reveal what it is bin men ‘don’t want’ from local residents.
He continued: “I’ll tell you what I don’t want – Fosters.
“No one drinks Fosters! You don’t want it, that’s why you give it to us.
“But most of the time people just give us stuff which they don’t want anyway, so we’re not fussed. We’ll take it.
“But a bacon sandwich would be lovely, thanks!”
It seems a lot of people might have been stuck on what to get their bin men, as the bloke’s video ended up going viral and racked up over 316,000 views.
Social media users flooded the comment section with their thoughts on the bloke’s gifting advice, while others shared their own experiences.
One said: “I put out mince pies, cake and Christmas box last year and they ignored it!!”
Another wrote: “We always buy a box of Carlsberg and they seem happy.”
A third laughed: “I gave my bin man a box of chocolates and got ‘it’s the thought that counts’.”
A fourth joked: “I have an agreement with my bin men…I’ll get them a lovely Christmas gift when they start putting my bin back where they found it.”
Sounds like we better get those frying pans on, eh?Featured Image Credit: TikTok/theno1.binman/Getty Stock Images
Topics: Christmas, Food And Drink, TikTok, UK News, Viral
Olivia Burke
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Updated 20:00 9 Dec 2024 GMTPublished 20:01 9 Dec 2024 GMT
HR expert explains what you can do if you don’t want to take part in Secret Santa at work
Secret Santa is a staple in many offices, but is it mandatory for all employees to partake?
Secret Santa season is upon us! It’s time to head out and grab a gift for a colleague that you either barely know or you’re joined at the hip to.
Either way, some cash is going to be spent.
Usually, workers can enjoy this harmless holiday tradition and revel in finding the perfect gift for their colleague, or just wing it by getting a gift card. Win win, right?
Secret Santa can be a fun tradition in the work place, but it isn’t for everyone (Getty Stock Image)
But there has to be some among us who really resent being made to cough up a gift for a coworker who we’re really not that close with.
However, there’s a good chance that they wouldn’t vocalize this, out of fear that they’d be seen as the office Grinch or Scrooge. Or they could even fear for their job.
But what exactly happens if somebody refuses to partake in the office Secret Santa?
A HR expert has taken to TikTok to explain the potential outcomes.
Can an employer force a worker to partake in Secret Santa? (TikTok/@cubichr)
Speaking on the channel cubehr, the expert said: “If an employee doesn’t want to participate, then as an employer you can’t compel them to.
“In order to understand if there’s a wider issue at play though, it would be advisable to have a conversation with the employee who doesn’t want to participate.
“It might be that there are some very real reasons for their stance.
“Although most businesses set a limit they’d spend on a Secret Santa, for some employees that might still be too much if they are experiencing financial hardship.
“The employee might not want to participate for cultural or religious reasons, which should be respected.”
According to a YouGov poll, 14 percent of Brits don’t celebrate Christmas. But religious considerations aren’t the only factors at play in opting out of Secret Santa.
The HR expert continued: “Secret Santa is sometimes a way of reinforcing workplace banter. And as we know, that can sometimes step over the line.
“So the employee may be experiencing some bullying and doesn’t want to join in, in case the present they receive is offensive or perpetuates the bullying in some way.”
Legally, companies aren’t allowed to enforce Secret Santa on their employees (Getty Stock Image)
In the end, the conclusion was clear – an employee has a right to abstain if they choose to and shouldn’t be forced to join in.
Many people in the comments shared their thoughts on whether or not it should be compulsory.
One person commented: “It’s definitely not an employer’s place to be questioning someone over Secret Santa.”
And another said: “Is this a joke? I’m a complete introvert and refuse stone cold to participate in any workplace activities.”
The verdict was pretty unanimous – forced fun isn’t okay.Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Image / TikTok/@cubehr
Ben Thompson
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Updated 15:34 12 Dec 2024 GMTPublished 13:29 12 Dec 2024 GMT
Brits warned to pour boiling water down drains immediately if they see these strange creatures
Make sure you’re having a good look at what is going on inside of your plughole
If you’ve read Stephen King’s iconic novel It or watched the 2017 adaptation of it, you’ll know that taking a peek down a drain can be a dangerous game.
The chances of Pennywise popping up through the pipework might be slim, but he’s not the only one who’s a fan of exploring the sewers.
In fact, there’s a host of other pests who like setting up camp in gutters too – which can end up being an even bigger nuisance than a killer clown if you don’t get rid of them sharpish.
So if you ever see anything untoward going on down your plughole, stick the kettle on and get ready to drench it in boiling water, as it’s the first step to getting rid of your unwelcome drain dwellers.
The pests like to lay their eggs in sludge and debris which accumulates in drains (Reddit)
A content creator decided to share some advice about how to deal with drain flies after seeing a ‘really gross’ Reddit post about them.
In a TikTok video, he explained that a couple had found a ‘black mass of creatures’ wriggling around in an unused drain.
“This is actually something relatively common, and they might even be in your home,” the social media user said.
But don’t fret, as you can evict the annoying insects by following a few steps.
Explaining that the bubbling black sludge is actually ‘drain fly larvae’, the content creator said these will eventually evolve into the real deal.
According to Pronto Pest Management, adults enjoy laying their eggs inside the muck which accumulates inside drains.
These hairy, moth-like creatures then head on their merry way to torment you while in flight, waiting for the next generation to grow.
Females can lay hundreds of eggs each, so it’s an issue that you will want to nip in the bud as soon as possible.
Drain flies can be quite difficult to get rid of if you don’t act fast (Getty Stock Photo)
Drain flies thrive in dark, damp conditions so a drain is their ideal destination – hence the name – and they have a penchant for polluted water contaminated with horrible stuff like faeces.
They are usually a light grey or tan colour and have a dark border around their wings, pest control experts say.
The content creator continued: “Basically, anywhere there is standing water in your home, they will spawn.
“In small numbers they are not typically considered harmful, but if you have an infestation, they can spread pretty harmful bacteria to your food, contaminating surfaces…they’re not something you want in your home.”
Too right – so, how do we get rid of drain flies?
Well, apparently, the first thing you want to do is drench the larvae in a load of boiling water, which will hopefully dislodge the majority of them.Play
Experts recommend heating a medium-size pot of water and pouring it down and around the drain once or twice a week until you’ve got rid of your unwelcome guests.
From there, you can give your drain or sink area a thorough clean.
Country Living suggest using a pipe cleaner to get in all of the nooks and crannies inside the drain is also a great idea.
Concocting a mixture of some baking soda, salt and vinegar to douse your drain in can also work a treat if it’s left overnight and rinsed with boiling water the next day.
Or if you don’t fancy whipping up your own solution, purchasing a drain-cleaner could help banish the insects with help from all the chemicals which unclog our pipes.
This step will also help flush out any debris which could be considered an ideal breeding ground by a drain fly.
Make sure you do your research before you go all Kim and Aggie on your household drains, but just know, you’re not doomed.Featured Image Credit: Reddit
Topics: Social Media, Home, Animals, Hacks
Olivia Burke
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Published 13:32 11 Dec 2024 GMT
Martin Lewis shares ‘secret way’ people can start shopping at Costco UK if they don’t normally qualify
The money-saving expert has shared some advice for shoppers
Martin Lewis has shared the hidden way in which people can gain access to shop at Costco stores in the UK, even if they don’t usually qualify to be a member.
The popular retailer, which has 29 stores across the UK, offers its members and their partners lower prices for buying in bulk, but it can be difficult to gain access sometimes.
Only certain professions can apply for in-store membership, which is priced from £26.40 per year, including business owners, government workers, bankers or police.
Martin Lewis has shared some advice with shoppers. (ITV)
However, even if you don’t fall into one of the many categories stated, you could still start saving with Costco.
Money Saving Expert (MSE) founder Martin shared advice with shoppers, revealing there are some membership options that exist, but Costco doesn’t tend to advertise them.
The MSE website states: “AA, RAC and National Trust members are eligible to join at certain locations.”
The retailer does not advertise these membership options, but the financial gurus at MSE checked with UK Costco stores to see if the speculation was true.
While it doesn’t seem to extend to every Costco branch in the UK, they were informed that AA, RAC and National Trust members could qualify to shop at stores in Birmingham, Sheffield and Cardiff.
However, there’s a catch.
You can only shop at the location you joined at. Martin advised calling before making your first trip, just to double check the rules in place at your local Costco.
The experts at MSE have also shared some advice for those heading to Costco to do a big shop, as it can be tempting to quickly overspend thanks to the various offers and discounts.
Costco UK stores can be difficult to gain access to. (Getty)
The experts claim it can be sensible to make a shopping list and stick to it as you navigate your trip to Costco, branding it the ‘number one rule’.
Otherwise, the discounts and huge range of products could mean ‘you’ll pop in for bog roll and come out with a canoe, a 6ft teddy bear and a crate of 30 Danish pastries.’
They also advise being slightly sceptical of deals, adding: “Just because something graces Costco’s shelves, it doesn’t automatically make it a good deal. Always do your own research first and check if you can get it cheaper elsewhere.”
Compare unit prices as you go or download the Trolley.co.uk app to compare while out and about. Costco can often be cheaper for branded goods, but other supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl might come out cheaper for own-brands.