Household rubbish can only be collected if bin lids are fully closed
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are reminding residents that crews can only empty household wheelie bins if the lids fully closed lids.
Crew members check to make sure that the waste is fully contained within each bin. They need to do this because there is a real risk that an overfilled bin won’t attach properly to the lifting equipment at the rear of the collection vehicle. In such cases, it’s common for bins to become unattached and end up being thrown from the lift, causing a serious danger to collection staff, the public and motorists who might be in the vicinity.
Waste can also drop from overfilled bins while they are being wheeled to the collection vehicle, creating a street cleansing issue. Closed lids minimize spillage and help to prevent vermin (such as foxes and gulls) from taking items from bins, which leads to dirtier streets.
As part of their safe working requirements, to minimise the chance of injury, collection crews are instructed to adopt correct manual handling techniques when lifting, carrying and wheeling waste receptacles to the collection vehicle. Unfortunately, it is human nature to try and catch waste falling from a bin while it is in motion, which can lead to injury. A closed bin lid will stop waste from falling out and prevent this from happening.
The councils’ waste and recycling policy states that bin lids must be fully closed in order for the bin to be emptied on the scheduled collection day. This requirement applies to all wheelie bins – including general rubbish, recycling and garden waste.
If a household has more waste than will fit in their bin with the lid shut, residents should:
- for general rubbish and garden waste – hold it back for next time or take to their local Household Waste and Recycling Centre (you won’t get charged for household waste)
- for recycling – put the extra items in a clear plastic sack or cardboard box and leave it next to the bin ready for collection
Cllr Hayleigh Gascoigne, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Climate Action and Nature Recovery, at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “Our waste collection crews work incredibly hard, whatever the weather, to empty everyone’s bins and keep our communities tidy. However, overfilled bins with open lids are a safety hazard and items can fall out, littering our streets or worse, injure someone.”
Councillor Sam James-Lawrie, Cabinet Member for Environment at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “The waste collection industry is one of the highest risk of injury jobs within the UK, when crew members wheeling bins full of waste to the collection vehicle around 500 times per day each, it’s important that their wellbeing is protected. So, we’re asking everyone to work with us and check their bin before they roll it out. An open lid – even just slightly raised – signals that a bin is too full. So, to ensure the rubbish can be emptied, make sure the lid is shut.”
