Councils landfilling bikes

And slightly off-topic, does anyone know have councils stopped the public taking dumped bikes from local tips? I was categorically told I couldn't take/buy what looked to be a perfectly servicable old Raleigh from my local tip due to 'Health and Safety'.

There's probably some insurance related or other policy which prohibits people removing things from council tips (I guess due to fear of getting sued) but I reckon there's a fair chance that any bike in reasonable condition would unofficially get picked up by some contractor or other and ebayed.

I know that my particular council gives bikes abandoned on its own property to a charity. I assume this is one of the local bike repair /sales CICs, though I hope not the one that managed to make a total dog's breakfast of my own bike when I left it for a 'service'