Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to put alerts on its website when bin capacity is reached at its recycling centres. Any injustice Mr X has experienced is not significant enough to justify an investigation.

The complaint

1. Mr X travelled to a Council recycling centre to dispose of waste but was unable to do so as the bin was full.
2. Mr X also complained that he was asked demographics questions when complaining to the Council via its website.
3. Mr X said this caused inconvenience.
4. Mr X wants the Council to put alerts on its website to show when bins are at capacity at its recycling centres.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

5. 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

6. I considered information provided by Mr X.
7. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

8. Our role is to consider complaints where the person bringing the complaint has suffered significant personal injustice as a direct result of the actions or inactions of the organisation. This means we will normally only investigate a complaint where the complainant has suffered serious loss, harm, or distress as a direct result of faults or failures. We will not normally investigate a complaint where the alleged loss or injustice is not a serious or significant matter.
9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint. Any injustice Mr X has experienced is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

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Final decision

10. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because any injustice he has experience is not significant enough to justify us investigating.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman