I noticed something odd while observing my neighbor's gardener. He seemed to be collecting waste, but then I saw him adding his own garden waste to the bin at the end of the job. At first, I thought he was just being helpful by taking waste away, but then I realized he was compacting grass and putting branches on top. It left me wondering if this is a common practice or if it feels a bit shady. Am I overthinking this, or is there something sneaky going on? How much are gardeners charging for these kinds of jobs?
3 Answers
You might be onto something with the idea of composting! Gardeners sometimes add 'brown' materials like branches to balance out 'green' materials like grass. This can help with decomposition and prevent bad odors, so it's not entirely out of line. Plus, if they've got leftover waste from earlier jobs, mixing it in another client's bin can help them avoid disposal fees, which many do to keep prices lower for customers.
It's actually pretty common for gardeners to use bins from different clients throughout the day. They often have to pay to dispose of their waste, so if they can fill someone else's bin, it saves them money. It's not necessarily a scam, but it might feel a bit dodgy, especially if there isn't a clear agreement. Just keep in mind that gardeners often do what they can to minimize their costs.
This could be a way to avoid disposal fees, which are pretty high for trade waste. If the gardener adds his own waste to fill up the customer's bin, then he doesn't have to pay to take it to the tip. While it might feel unfair, especially if there's no transparency, a lot of gardeners do this to stay competitive. Just make sure you're okay with how it's handled!