Bad bin behaviour is a source of annoyance for nearly half (49 per cent) of the nation, over 30 million people, reveals new research from Churchill Insurance. People do not like bins being left outside on the street, with one in five people (21 per cent) believing they should be taken in from the street immediately after collection if someone is home. More than a third (34 per cent) think bins should not be outside for any more than 12 hours.

Not only is this poor bin behaviour damaging neighbourly relationships, it also risks putting off potential buyers on the messiest streets.
Henri Codling, an estate agent Pattison Lane Estate Agents, explains: “Bin etiquette is super important, especially when it comes to maintaining a pleasant environment for everyone in the neighbourhood. The environment and cleanliness of streets is vital when a buyer is coming to look at what could potentially be their new home, and it certainly makes a huge difference when the road is tidy.
“If all neighbours work together to ensure their streets are clean and stick to simple bin etiquette, it creates a cleaner environment for everyone and boosts the reputation of a street. This goes a long way when people are having a potential buyer look at their home.”

The research also explores the lengths people will go to perform decent bin behaviour, with one in four (27%) admitting they have worn their pyjamas out on their street to get the bin out on time, 16% have admitted stepping out in someone else’s shoes and one in ten (9%) have been in such a rush, they’ve thrown something valuable away.
Overfilling bins (15 per cent), leaving bins out for several days after collection (14 per cent) and not clearing up rubbish from bin bags that have been ripped open by wild animals (14 per cent) top the list as the most annoying habits when it comes to bin management.

In the West London town of Uxbridge, resident Steven Halo has faced several bin issues on his street: “There’s an ongoing situation where one of the houses puts their bin out on any given day. As a result, we often have rubbish piling up on the corner of our street, including nappies and cat litter, which, unfortunately, attracts foxes.
“It’s become so frustrating that some of our other neighbours took matters into their own hands – they’ve made a sign and placed it on these neighbours’ bins to let them know about the issue and letting them know when the bin day is. At one point the area was even cordoned off with red and white tape.”
When it comes to resolving conflicts around bad bin behaviour, two in five (42 per cent) people prefer to tackle it head on, speaking directly to their neighbour. While they still favour the direct approach overall, younger people (18-34 years old) are more likely than older groups to opt for alternative indirect methods, such as slipping a note under their neighbour’s door, writing a message on a communal notice board, or posting in a group chat.

Sarah Khan Churchill – Head of Home Insurance said: “Stepping out of the house to be met by bins that have been left out, is a major frustration for a staggering 30 million people across the UK. And what’s worse is that bad bin behaviour could be impacting those trying to sell their homes. Despite this, many of us are guilty of bad bin etiquette.
“As we head into winter it’s important bins are being brought in, not just for keeping the streets tidy, but also for safety reasons. With pavements potentially more slippery due to the weather, and high winds at risk of blowing items over, bringing bins back in straight away after collection could save you having to fork out for costly repairs – and it’ll be sure to put you in your neighbours’ good books too!”