Brown/blue recycling bins....can we keep them to make compost in?

[Deb P]

Our local (Derby) council are changing our recycling bins: we are going from two recycling bins to one large blue bin for all recycling materials, and will have to pay £40 a year if we want to continue to use our brown garden waste bin. The new big bin has already arrived, and the 'old' bins are going to be collected at some point.

I have tried to find out if we can keep the other two 'old' bins to use to compost or liquid feed in, but there is nothing about this on the website and you can't get through to speak to a real person any more at the council. Anybody have any idea? I was talking to my mum about having her old bins too, but she was worried if we kept them she might get charged as if she was getting them emptied.....

[Deb P]

[cornykev]

I kept my old bins and some of my neighbours too, I use then for collecting weeds, liquid feed, collecting rain water etc, I even planted spare spuds.   

[steve1967]

I agree with Kev. The council started to charge for the green waste bins last year. These are normal size bins I have four at the plot for water. The brown food waste bins are now used for my nettle stew.

The council will not be interested in taking back old bins that wont be used. Put them to use how you see fit.

[Deb P]

Great news, I'm sure I can find untold uses for them....