Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about food waste recycling. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault to warrant further investigation and the claimed injustice is insufficient to justify investigating.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about the Council’s refusal to remove a food waste caddy and outdoor food waste bin delivered to his address.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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:

• there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating, or
• any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement, or
• we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation, or
• further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

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

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. The Council delivered a food waste caddy and outdoor food waste bin to Mr X’s address as it introduced food waste collections in line with government requirements.
6. Mr X complained to the Council. He told the Council that he did not wish to receive the caddy and bin and asked it to remove them from his property.
7. The Council issued a complaint response. It said the Government required all councils to introduce the service from March 2026. Therefore, it had to deliver the caddy and 23-litre bin to all households, although residents did not have to use the service.
8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council. It has provided Mr X with a waste caddy and outdoor food bin so he can use the new food waste recycling service. It is a matter for the Council to decide how best to manage its refuse services.
9. Even if there were fault in the Council’s process, we will not investigate. While I recognise storing a 23-litre outdoor food waste bin and caddy caused Mr X some frustration, the claimed injustice is not significant enough to justify investigating.

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Final decision

10. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because there is insufficient evidence of fault to warrant further investigation and the claimed injustice is insufficient to justify investigating.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman