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Glasgow Live

National

Sophie Buchan

Little-known Glasgow bin phone hack means you can complain about overflowing rubbish in seconds

Glasgow Beyoncé Glasgow City Council Rod Stewart Google Play Nextdoor

When it comes to keeping homes clean, it is important to keep on top of the bins to ensure they are not overflowing and are emptied on the right days.

However, even if litter from homes is disposed of properly, things can get pretty messy and smelly quickly if bins are not collected. Glasgow has been an area of concern when it comes to litter, overflowing bins and even pests like mice and rats as a result of waste around the city.

Bins can be missed for a number of reasons, but overflowing waste can cause an array of problems for households, gardens and streets.. Thankfully, there is an easy way to solve the issue.

Taking to the app Nextdoor, one thoughtful neighbour living in the city pointed out a little-known hack that can solve the issue within seconds, just by using your phone.

Taking to the app she said: "l just wanted to share that the street bins all have a QR code on them and if they are full you can point your phone camera at them and you go straight to the council page for reporting it. It takes one press of the phone and it's done.

The easy trick may not be known to some. (Nextdoor/Glasgow Live.)

"Have been doing this for the bin in Novar Drive at Airlie Street for the last year and they tend to empty the next day which is excellent.

"I just wish more people knew this and did the same, hence sharing."

This little-known tick is confirmed on the Glasgow City Council website. Here is what they say and how you can submit a report.

Glasgow City Council - how to report a bin problem

Using an app

You can report problems with litter bins in a public place using their website. You can also use the MyGlasgow app which can be download from the App store and Google Play.

Using a QR Code

If you find that your bin is damaged or overflowing and causing problems, you can report a problem with the following types of bins in a public place:

General Waste (Litter)
Glass (bottles and jars)
Mixed recycling (cans, cardboard, paper, plastics or tins)

Types of problems that can be reported:

A damaged bin
A bin that has not been emptied/overflowing
Siting of bin (general waste only)
A bin that has been vandalised

To report an issue, you can simply scan a QR code on any Public Litter Bins or Public Recycling Point Bins. You can do so for the following problems:

Bin Overflowing
Bin Damaged (e.g. Fire Damaged, Sign Damaged, Bin Pushed Over)
Graffiti
- Graffiti (General)
- Graffiti (Homophobic)
- Graffiti (Obscene)
- Graffiti (Racist)
- Graffiti (Sectarian)

GCC add: "You can enter your Name and email address, or you can submit your report anonymously. Once submitted the request will be sent to the local Street Cleansing team for action."

How to scan the QR code on the Litter Bin

You will be able to scan the QR code on the litter bin via the following methods:

Camera App on smart phone device.

Open the Camera app on your smart phone. Scan the QR code that is attached to the litter bin.
This will direct you to the online form on Glasgow City Council website to report issue with the bin.

QR Code scanner App on smart phone device.

You can download a QR scanner App either through the App Store on Apple Phones or the Play Store on Android phones.
Open the QR scanner app on your phone. Scan the QR code that is attached to the litter bin.

They add: "We regularly empty public litter bins, but if you find one that is damaged or overflowing and causing problems, please let us know."

You can report a problem with the following types of bins in a public place: