I’ve developed bizarre hobby linked to local bins after spotting one in shape of a bear — my wife hates the whole thing

A DAD has picked up a bit of a rubbish hobby — photographing and rating local bins.

“Binfluencer” Andy Bailey has snapped nearly 100 and posts them on Instagram.

He gives them a score out of 25 after judging them for personality, placement, popularity, performance and “pristine”.

The 49-year-old father of four became obsessed after spotting a refuse container in the shape of a bear, so decided to visit every bin in his town.

Andy said: “Buildings and areas get developed — but the same bins stay for decades.

“There’s one we call the Taylor Swift because it was placed there in 1989. There are concrete bins that look like they’ve come from 1960s Russia.”

Andy, who works as a hospice fundraiser, said: “Bins have played a big part in a lot of people’s lives, but they’re often ignored.

“One person said a particular bin I took a picture of had been the Saturday night meeting place for him and his mates when he was younger.”

Andy, of Congleton, Cheshire, reckons some bins he’s visited are not fit for purpose.

He said: “One’s just a piece of metal on a stick.”

His top bin — in a shopping precinct — scored a sparkling 23 and his worst a shoddy eight.

But he has yet to give a perfect 25. He mused: “Maybe I never will.”

Binfluencer Andy has big plans, adding: “I’d love to do a calendar of all the bins, maybe even a walking tour.

“My wife hates the whole thing — but there’s plenty of worse things I could be doing.”