Curious if you have this option where you live and how it works.

So I’m housesitting and the people that live here left their bins about 3/4 full. The collection is fortnightly here in Sydney.

I put the bins out at the right time like every other neighbor, but the next morning all bins were empty, except mine.

I was told to make an online claim to the council, and I did, thinking it would be completely ignored. Their website says that if you put the bins out and they miss collecting, they’ll come back and pick it up in two business days. I just entered my name, address and phone and to my surprise, sure enough, after the weekend they came and picked up just my bin. Nobody requested any proof of my claim, they didn’t even reply or confirm they were going to do it- they just did it. They also didn’t care that my name isn’t listed as a resident of the address I gave.

Happy days I guess. But this got me thinking, how do they know the fault is on their side and not mine? How do they prevent people from abusing the system? Do they have dashcams they check to see? Or the number of people asking for collection is so low that they just don’t care? Does anyone know?

    • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      1·
      2 days ago

      Np. It’s a long one ;)

      Yeah I mean, it would cost them way more to verify that stuff than to just pick the bin up. You’ve also got to remember that garbage collection is a public health issue, especially in a large city, as well as an environmental one.

      Replying specifically to the italic part.
      Where I am they (probably) couldnt care less about the health and only fulfill their contract duties.

      • Norah (pup/it/she)@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        But wouldn’t part of their contract duties include going back for a missed collection if the government body told them too? Or is this somewhere that’s unincorporated and they get paid by homeowners directly? We don’t really have unincorporated territory in most places where people live in Australia so I’m not familiar.

        • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
          2·
          2 days ago

          Not entirely sure. For the record: It’s Germany. No need for ambiguity.
          According to my munincipality the city is responsible for the collection (I believe they they still contract a 3rd party. Or at least in the city where I live).
          The fee is paid by the landowner. Thus the tenants probably get the fees handed down with the rent.

          Regarding missed collection: I assume the same as some others mentioned: Call the city hall and complain. They will relay it to the collection company.