Our dustbin men generally seem pretty competant and friendly. And they seem to quite enjoy the work. And the only time I had a similar sort of problem, when a dustcart backed into my parked car and damaged it, the council accepted responsibility and paid up with no problems.

You seem to be expecting the council to play silly buggers over this, and you might of course be correct. But don't go anticipating difficulties, because that can often be a good way of finding them.