A pensioner is living under piles of recycling because bin men refused to collect her rubbish for four months.

Sarojini Patel, 65, one of Harrow Council's "Neighbourhood Champions", has lived at the same flat in Herga Road, Wealdstone, for three decades.

Ms Patel, who lives alone, has now racked up around four months’ worth of plastic and cardboard in her one-bedroom flat because her neighbours keep on throwing household waste in her recycling wheelie bin.

“The dustbin men are strict but very good,” she said.

“He opened the lid and could see all of the plastic carrier bags inside and wouldn’t take it.”

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She attributes the wasteful behaviour of the downstairs flat residents to overcrowding, and says at one point around eight or nine people lived in the tiny property.

“There are too many people living in that flat so they have to use my bin,” she added.

“They have the same amount of bins as me despite being one small person compared to five in the downstairs flat, but sometimes it’s eight or nine people.

“The landlord gets more money if there are more people so he doesn’t care.”

Although her recycling bin has now been emptied – a mistake she says was done by a trainee bin man – Ms Patel says it will take her weeks of attritional recycling to get rid of the accumulated pile.

“It will take me three weeks to clear all of this. I am so angry – it’s not a good atmosphere to live in.

“This has happened in the past and I am sure it will happen again.”

Wealdstone councillor Antonio Weiss even donated a lock for Ms Patel to keep her bin secure, but she said it was pointless unless the bin was empty.

“I don’t want this!” she exclaims, holding up the plastic device.

“I told them to first of all empty my bin, then I will put the lock on.”

Not only is the waste clogging up her kitchen, but should a fire start in the crowded downstairs flat, she would be unable to escape because her first floor flat lacks an emergency exit.

The fire risk is exacerbated by the fact her neighbours smoke constantly, she says.

“If there is a fire or something then it will be a big problem.

“I am so cross because I am allergic to cigarette smoke.

“I spoke with Councillor Graham Henson and he said there was no legislation to stop people smoking. The Government should do something about the law because this effects non-smokers.

“It’s a big burden on the NHS.”

A few years ago Ms Patel set off for the civic centre with her sleeping bag because the smoke coming from downstairs was too thick to stand.

She spoke with then council leader Navin Shah when he emerged from a meeting at around 11.30pm.  

“I told him I was going to sleep here – ‘I am serious’ I said.

“He came back to see my home and within one week they chucked everyone downstairs out.

“It is unhealthy, unhygienic and unsafe.”

Harrow Council has been contacted for comment.