However, Harry Lane doesn’t just take next door’s bins in, he takes them in for more than 80 of his fellow Eastersiders around his Astonbury Green home.
The 53-year-old has been carrying out the selfless act for more than 10 years and his efforts have led to him being named the latest recipient of a Middlesbrough Council Good Neighbour Award.
Scores of neighbours turned out to help Harry celebrate the award alongside his wife Debbie, 45, which has presented to him by Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Community Safety Cllr Tony Grainge.
One of those who nominated him, Ian Moran, said: “This man Harry is such an inspiration to not just the green we live on but the full estate.
“Harry not only reminds everyone on the Easterside social page of which bins are due out but come rain snow or sun he takes every single bin out on Astonbury every single week without fail and once emptied by the bin men puts everyone’s bins back.
“I’m not talking just four bins but over 80 bins every single week. He also does a lot for charity with his wife Debbie. He has recently been taking everyone’s scrap from there house on a trolley and disposing it in a proper way to help people get rid of it.
“This man would help anybody. He has been known to take people to appointments if taxis are running late or haven’t turned up. He really deserves some sort of recognition. Everyone on Easterside knows Harry for who he is.”
Harry, who is dad to Ciaran, 18, and Niamh, 14, said: “I love Easterside and I love helping people. It’s great to be given the award and nice that so many people came out. It’s fantastic.”
Cllr Grainge said: “Harry is a great guy who does a lot for the community and this Good Neighbour Award is set up for people like him who look after others close to them. He’s the perfect example.”
