Loose Women star Dancy Welch has gone viral this week after she called out Brent Council for failing to collect her son’s bins and accused one of the workers of swearing at her son. So, we asked the experts what you should do if you miss your garbage collection.
with the new Recycling regulations Coming into force this month, it’s important that you pay attention to everything you can and can’t put in your bin – or risk your rubbish not being collected. Which, as Dennis pointed out on X (formerly Twitter), can be particularly frustrating.
The TV star was furious on behalf of her son, as his bins have not been collected in three weeks. This is what you should do if you find yourself in a similar situation.
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In a now-deleted tweet posted on 30 March 2026, Dennis said: ‘Hi @brent_council. You haven’t emptied my son’s bin in 3 weeks. Any attempts at due process have failed.’
Denise has two children, whom she shares with Benidorm actor Tim Healy, 1975 frontman Matty Healy and actor Louis Healy. She did not confirm which son the post was about.
So @Brent_Council has responded thank you. And I appreciate all your comments that make me laugh 🤣🤣🤣🤣👏❤️❤️❤️🤣🤣March 30, 2026
The post was removed just hours after it was posted, with Denise confirming that she had been in contact with Brent Council. She thanked him fans To comment and make her laugh.
While this viral post has sparked a lot of jokes and speculation, with many fans wondering about the state of Matty Healy’s bin, I decided what you should actually do if you miss a council rubbish collection. And no, experts do not recommend taking X.
What to do if your bin is not collected
‘If your bin collection has been missed, the first thing I would say before despair sets in is to calmly contact them. These things happen, and how you respond makes all the difference,’ explains Rachel Watkin, OBE, recycling and sustainability expert and founder. The Little Box Company.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
‘Start by checking your local council’s website; Most now have an easy way to report missed collections, often with a guaranteed return window. Do this right away, as the timing can affect whether it comes back the same week.
‘In the meantime, it’s about staying practical. Make sure your garbage is stored securely, lids closed, bags tied to avoid attracting insects or creating unnecessary mess. If capacity becomes an issue, consider consolidating waste or temporarily using a neighbor’s spare space if appropriate. A sense of community goes a long way in such moments.
What I always encourage, both in business and at home, is to see these small obstacles as an opportunity to be proactive rather than reactive. A quick report, a systematic solution and a measured mindset will resolve things much more effectively than stress. And if it becomes a recurring problem, that’s when it’s worth escalating it more formally; Consistency and standards are important, whether you’re running a company or just managing your home.’
(Image credit: Future plc)
If a recycling collection is missed, simply go to your local council’s website to report it. In the meantime, there is Ways to make more space in the recycling bin To help increase space for additional waste.
You should also first check that your bin has not been rejected for any reason, such as contamination (having the wrong items in it), too heavy or incorrect placement. You should also check online to see if your entire street has been missed.
It is important Rinse your recycling And make sure everything is in the correct bin, as this can affect whether or not your bin is picked up. If your bin is missed, bear in mind that different councils have different rules about how long you have to report a missed collection. For example, my local council is Bristol City, and if my collection is missed, I have between 5pm on the day of the missed collection and 5pm the next working day to report it.
If the council does not respond or rectify the issue within a reasonable time frame, you can make a formal complaint, which can be escalated. Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. You can also take your waste to a local waste center if you don’t have a place waiting for it to be collected during the following cycle.
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Denise Welch is proof that even celebrities can be depressed by a bad day. But now that you know what to do when a collection is missed, hopefully such disappointment will be lessened.
