Five tips from No1 Binman on how to recycle right

"Some people say being a binman's a rubbish job," says Ashley, also known as viral sensation The No1 Binman. "I don't care - as long as you're doing something you love."

The refuse worker says he is happy to help with anything people want to find out about the "bindustry". On Instagram he answers the questions people send him about what to chuck out and how.

Ashley may know a lot about it, but his content certainly is not... rubbish.

The binfluencer says he lives and works in south-east England - but as to which part, that is a mystery best kept between himself and his employer.

He has 13 years of experience in waste and recycling, and has shared some of his top tips.

"Everything in recycling bins should be loose apart from food waste," Ashley advises. "Don't bother putting plastic in a plastic bag and then putting it in your bin - waste of time!

"Black bags cost a fortune as well. Save your money and just rinse out your containers."

He says sometimes people complain rinsing will make their water bills go up, but suggests this can be done at no extra cost.

Ashley recommends using water left in a washing up bowl, the bath or leaving containers out in the rain.

Maggots and flies are attracted to food left in general waste bins as they tend to be collected less often, Ashley says.

He recommends taking your food recycling bin out every week - but if you are no stranger to the sticky, rotting food at the bottom of the caddy, Ashley has some advice.

"If you leave waste for a couple of days, it sticks to the bottom. Then you're the one having to scoop it out," he says.

"Most councils allow you to use newspaper at the bottom of your food recycling."

He says biodegradable bags can also help, adding that food recycling is for solids only, not for milk or sauces.

"People have a go at the binmen thinking we make the rules," says Ashley.

If he finds a recycling bin with more than 5-10% of non-recyclable items, he is told to leave the entire bin.

One bugbear for Ashley is people who leave their food in the packaging.

"You should be taking food out if you put it in your food waste bin, rather than chucking it straight in there – like if you've got a loaf of bread that's out of date," he says.

What he sees most, though, is polystyrene left in the paper bin: "If something comes in a cardboard box, people take the item out and leave the polystyrene in the box."

Other repeat offenders include carrier bags and pizza boxes. "Pizza boxes technically shouldn't go in paper waste because the grease on the boxes makes it unable to be recycled because you can't clean it off," Ashley explains.

"They should be ripped apart and separated. Paper should be clean all the time.

"But some councils allow you to put them in the compost bin because they can be broken down with dirt and foods."

Have you had issues with your bin going missing – sometimes even ending up at a neighbour's place?

"Put your bin number on the lid," Ashley advises. "It's the only place where no matter where you're standing, you can always see where the number is.

"The front is OK for people walking past but because you're dragging it, it can be harder to see – and streetlights light up the lids."

Ashley also sets a reminder the night before bin day - with which bins go out on which day.

"People mainly complain when their food waste isn't collected," he says, adding that food caddies can get blown down the road in bad weather because they are so light.

Ashley's top tip: "Fill a milk carton with water and put it on top of the bin."

Depending on where you live, you may need to recycle soft plastics and electronics at supermarkets or larger tips instead of at home.

"Do not put vapes or batteries in any bin," Ashley says. "You can take them to B&Q or the vape shop you bought them from and they're meant to dispose of the themselves."

He says some councils let you put batteries on top of bins in little carrier bags but they should never go inside the bin itself.

"I've had this before and I'm not sure if it's a battery or a vape - the back of a lorry started smoking."

He put the fire out, but says in other situations, entire lorries have gone up in flames.

For more on what you can and cannot recycle, you can have a look at Household Recycling in England.

BBC Surrey headed out on to the streets in Epsom, to learn more about residents' recycling habits.

Nadeem Badran said: "We separate everything at home - food, plastics and just general waste.

"It doesn't take me long, because I kind of just do it automatically.

"So there's bins for everything, and you just throw it in."

One womansaid recycling diligently had become custom for her.

"I recycle all plastics, all normal rubbish and foods. I do rinse it all out, as best as I can," she said.

"It's habit - I just do it all the time now."

Another said she had five bins, including separate bins for food, glass and general waste.

She said: "I do it [sorting] as I go along. I don't really spend a lot of time on it... but it is sorted in the right bins."

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