Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to inform the complainant that he cannot dispose of paint in his non-recyclable waste bin. We do not consider he suffered a significant personal injustice which warrants out involvement.

The complaint

1. The complainant, whom I shall call Mr X, complaints the Council failed to inform him about items which are not to be disposed of in the non-recyclable waste bin. He says because his waste was not collected, he had to dispose of it himself.
2. Mr X wants financial compensation for the time and trouble spent personally disposing of his waste, cleaning his car and clothes and dealing with his complaint.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Refuse collectors did not empty Mr X’s non-recyclable waste bin because it contained paint tins.
7. Mr X complained to the Council that its literature is not that paint tins cannot be disposed of in the non-recyclable waste bin.
8. The Council confirmed details are available on the back of the waste collection calendar and on its website. If confirmed its operatives do not have time to remove items from bins or ask residents to do so.
9. The back of the waste collection calendar does not refer specifically to paint. However, the Council’s website does state paint cannot be deposited in the bin. The Council explained to Mr X this is because of the risk of the tins bursting in the waste compactor and leaking onto the highway.

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Final decision

10. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. I acknowledge the inconvenience he was put to because he had to dispose of his own waste. However, we do not consider he has suffered a significant personal injustice which warrants an investigation by the Ombudsman.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman