Wheelie Bin Tips

General Tips

Because it contains waste, your bin should be regularly cleaned and emptied, if you leave it for too long between cleaning, any residue left in the bin may become rotten and may attract flies or other animal pests.

How to get the best from you wheelie bins:

• The container is only designed for the purpose of waste collection.
• Materials that have special needs such as chemicals, oils or paints must not be put into the wheelie bin.
• Wrap the waste in paper or degradable bags not plastic. Put a folded newspaper in the bottom to soak up excess liquid.
• Do not overfill. If the lid cannot be closed we may not be able to empty the bin and it will certainly be damaged. Too much weight could cause either you or the collector personal injury.
• Keep the lid closed. This will keep the waste dry, flies, insects, animals out and keep smells in.
• Stand the bin on level ground away from direct heat.
• Use handles to move the bin. Standing at the back, tilt it towards you and push the container in front of you.
• You should clean your bin occasionally with water and household detergent and using a yard brush to scrub the sides. If you find any damage to the bin report it to your council.
• Do not stand or sit on the bin, it is unsafe and will move.

Hot weather Tips

• If the lid is down on the bin any smells should be contained and the attraction to flies reduced.
• Recycle everything you can. This reduces demand on your Green wheelie bin and helps ensure the lid closes properly.
• Wrap food waste securely before placing in bin. Avoid depositing any loose food scraps or leftovers directly into the wheelie. Bin scraps straight away otherwise flies etc., are able to lay their eggs which are then transferred into your bin. This is the best way of avoiding maggots.
• When wrapping food squeeze remaining air out of the bag as this reduces smells even further.
• Double-wrap any foodstuffs that you think may be an attraction to flies for example, left over meat.. 
• Wash your wheelie out completely from time to time. Use warm water and disinfectant, and don't forget the inside of the lid!
• Try to avoid using the wheel bin for green garden waste during the hot spell. Green waste taken to the household waste sites is sent for composting.

Sustained hot weather is not a good time for wheel bins, but by generally following the above advice, problems should be minimised or eliminated altogether.

Remember our recycling bring sites take paper and in many cases cardboard, glass bottles and jars, aluminium and steel cans, empty aerosols and aluminium foil, textiles including bedding and shoes.

Windy weather Tips

Strong winds can cause problems with wheel bins. Please bear this in mind when putting your bin out for collection.

If the lid is up, the wind will catch it and start to distribute waste up and down the road, much to the annoyance of other residents. Please ensure you bin lid closes fully especially in windy weather. Facing the bin 'hinge side' into the wind may stop the lid lifting.

If the bin is light, the wind may move it and it may hit a car or other private property. It may cause the bin to fall over and distribute its load over the highway.  A little care in placement may help stop this problem.

A blue bin presents a different problem. If the glass box is heavy and there is very little heavy material in the bin itself it becomes top-heavy and doesn't take much wind to top the bin and scatter glass. I windy weather we advise the insert box is taken out and left next to the blue bin is a safe location.

Putting the bin out on the morning of collection also minimises its exposure to windy weather.