Rubbish

Hi readers,  Emily and Kerry here, with me, Kerry, having had another busy week, sharing a frustrating time I’ve had with bins recently.

Two or so weeks ago, my black bin wasn’t collected, so I rang Dorset Council and was told it would be emptied in five working days. I explained that I use a wheelchair, so having a full bin outside isn’t easy for me with space limited.

I waited. A few days later, I put out my recycling bin. Guess what? No sign of anyone emptying it either! So with two overflowing bins, it was difficult to get around, with them blocking the path, and not wanting to move them in case the rubbish men came!

I soon discovered my neighbours were having the same problem.  So at least it wasn’t anything I’d done wrong, which I had worried about a bit. After a few more phone calls and a complaint, two lovely council workers arrived to collect my food waste. We got chatting, and I explained what had been going on. They really listened. One of them rang his manager, there and then. And now, by the time you read this, fingers crossed all my bins will have been emptied!

I think sometimes in life, when things go wrong and we have to speak up to get whatever it is sorted, it can feel like you’re getting nowhere, especially when you have to keep repeating yourself.

It reminded me there are good people who genuinely want to listen, understand the problem and help. So, thank you to the dustbin men who took time to listen, especially the one who said something that struck me: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”

Here’s hoping next week’s adventures are a little less rubbish!

The writers of the Our View column are supported in their editing by People First Dorset - a charity led and run by people with learning disabilities with support from staff