WITH two bank holidays in the space of four days many councils have been forced to shake-up bin collection schedules this Easter.
Missing your slot can see smelly and unsightly waste build up outside your home so it's crucial to check when your rubbish will be collected this .
Those councils changing collection dates over the next two weeks include Southend, Harrow, Hillingdon, Greenwich, Newham, Norfolk, and Hertfordshire.
How collections are impacted will vary from to council, with some picking up waste earlier than usual and others pushing back collections.
In those whose bins would normally have been collected on Friday April 18 will instead have waste picked up on Saturday April 19.
Meanwhile in Greenwich Good Friday will go ahead, but those that would normally fall on Easter Monday (April 21) will instead be collected on Tuesday April 22.
All other bin collections planned for that week will be pushed back by one day.
Collections will then return to normal from Monday April 28.
In the borough of Newham bin collections that would have been made on April 17 or 18 will be collected a day earlier, while those due to be picked up the following week will be collected a day later than usual.
If your council is changing collection dates this Easter you should have been notified, but if not you can check online or get in touch with the authority to confirm when your bins should go out.
And don't worry if you're not sure which exact council you fall under – you can use the council finder on its website.
You only need to pop in your postcode.
It's important not to risk simply leaving your bins out over the entire Easter holiday as doing so could land you with a fine.
Equally as you dispose of Easter decorations and waste make sure you're placing items in the right bin to avoid your rubbish being left on the side of the road.
Wheelie bin rules that could land you with a fine
come under section 46A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and fines of around £80 can be issued if your bin causes an issue.
Potential breaches include leaving yourout for days or obstructing a neighbours' property with your bin.
Other breaches could include obstructing pavements so wheelchairs or buggies cannot pass, or leaving out rubbish in a way likely to attract vermin such as foxes or .
While fines for breaking the bin rules can be as high as £80, homeowners do have a right to explain why they shouldn't have to pay.
Fines cannot be issued for simply putting something into the wrong bin by mistake, forgetting to close bin lids or leaving bins out for a few hours before they're collected.
What other bank holidays will see my bin collection day change?
Like Easter, your bin collection date could change over the festive period.
For the majority of local authorities, rubbish will not be collected on Christmas Day.
It is also very unlikely that there will be any rubbish collected on New Year's Day.
Local councils should update their schedule online each time.
Sometimes other bank holidays including the May bank holiday and bank holiday can also see collection dates changed.
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