Every year there are reportedly thousands of bin fires nationwide. They are not only a nuisance for the fire service who have to spend hundreds of man hours and resources putting them out, but they are also a danger to buildings and lives.

Often, if a bin is left close to a building the flames can catch – causing a disastrous fire. Lives can be lost and businesses closed down through wanton vandalism and arson. However, there are several things that can be done to eliminate the risk of bin fires and reduce the chance of it turning it an even more serious fire.

First of all, it is important to reduce the chance of somebody starting a fire. Many bin fires are started in residential wheelie bins that are left out overnight. If possible do not to put wheelie bins out until the morning of collection, this will reduce the chance somebody has to start a fire unnoticed.

Keep bins away from buildings. If a fire is started you can reduce the risk to the building from the fire. Also ensure the bin is not overfull. Cutting down the fuel will reduce the fires effectiveness and also it can prevent burning rubbish from spilling to the floor and causing the fire to spread that way.

Don’t leave boxes and other litter around the rubbish bins, if the bin is full, you need another or its time to buy a large external bin instead.

Avoid placing anything that is overtly flammable in the rubbish bin. If you have to dispose of cardboard and paper, try bundling it together tightly, it will be harder for any fire to catch that way.

You may want to consider fire retardant bins, particularly if are a business or local authority. Members of the public can become victims of bin fires and that can leave you facing serious claims, both financial and possibly criminal. Fire retardant bins are already used in hospitals and other places so it may be worth considering replacing the external bins with them.

Anyone wanting more information about bin fires and reducing their impact should contact their local fire service who will be happy to provide additional guidance.

Most of us have a rubbish bin sat at the front of the house. There must be millions of them up and down the country but other than on rubbish day when someone comes round to empty them, few of us ever give the bin a second thought.

However, there are people who have looked at bins and thought, ‛Hmm, now here’s an idea,’ and have put the bin to some use, other than what it was designed for.

Here are some things people have done and used bins for other than for disposing of rubbish.

Bin Racing

Believe it or not, there are a whole host of racing events organised for bins. The annual wheelie bin racing championship in Thoona, Australia is a huge event and has been going for years. The idea of event is to take wheelie bins and convert them into down hill soap box carts. There are strict rules and regulations but anyone can enter an it is incredibly popular with families.

Wheeli Bin racing in Thoona

Other bin racing goes on around the world and most take a similar theme to the Thoona races but are less well organised.

Bins on ice

People in Canada have found a great use for the bin. Recycling bins and other receptacles are often used as sledges and ice carts. In areas all over Canada young children and families can be seen having fun in these make shift receptacles. A good though if you are to have a go yourself – make sure its empty.

Babies in bins

It is sadly all too common for new born babies to be left in bins too. Often its by mothers who can’t cope and they are often place din bins near hospitals. Because of the growing number of babies left like this, baby bins have been introduced in Germany which are secure and heated enclosures designed for confused mothers to leave their babies in. Many of the children left in the these bins are often reunited with their mothers soon after so the project seem to be effective.

More sinister things bins

Unfortunately because most of use never give the rubbish or litter bin a second thought all sorts of sinister items have been deposited in rubbish bins. Bodies (and parts of), guns and explosives have also been deposited in rubbish bins.

For local authorities, one of the most important aspects of keeping any city or town clean and free from litter is ensuring there are adequate bins to deal with the litter and rubbish the town’s population throw away.

The public litter bin is a vital tool in keeping towns and cities clean and inadequate bins, or lack of regular emptying will not only increase rubbish and litter but will lead to an increase in cost of tidying and cleaning up the town’s streets.

There are three aspects for selecting bins for public use and many local authorities and councils often make mistakes when looking for rubbish receptacles for public use leading to an increase in littering and fly-tipping.

But getting right is simple if you remember three key points:

Size

Ensuring the right sized bins are used is vital in preventing littering. Once a bin is full it is no longer useful and litter will pile up and spill all over the place. This will then get blown around by the wind making it pointless in having a bin in the first place. Ensure you order bins that are the right size for the number of people that are likely to use it. Busy high streets will require larger bins than smaller villages.

Also, the size of bin will be affected by how often it can be emptied. If a high street bin is only empti4d once a week then you must make sure its large enough, or there are enough of them, to cope with a weeks rubbish.

Location

Not having enough bins or placing them in the wrong area is another cause for increased littering. Studies have shown that most will not litter but will throw their rubbish in a litter bin if they are available. However, if the nearest bin is on the opposite side of the road or unseen around a corner, people revert back to littering.

Type

Location will often decide the size and type of bin too. A high street bin outside a busy takeaway or fast food place will need to be large enough to cop with the amount of rubbish it will have to deal with but also will have to ensure that the food waste is not accessible to vermin.

Since the smoking ban many local authorities have found an increase in cigarette litter. This is due to more people smoking out of doors so its important that in areas where high amounts of cigarettes are discarded, large ashtray bins or cigarette bins are installed to prevent it.

Never has something so innocent and mundane caused as much controversy since its inception than the wheelie bin. Wheelie bins have been around since the 1970’s and since their introduction in British society they are rarely out of the headlines.

There have even been campaigns by British newspapers to get them banned from the streets but are wheelie bins are practical solution for removing and handling waste so why have they been controversial. Partly, the reason lies in the conservative nature of the British householder, also combined with some myths propagated by the national press – wheelie bins have become notorious.

Blamed for rubbish reduction by stealth, accused of being dangerous and with stories of bugs, cameras and even bodies found in wheelie bins its no wonder they have a bad reputation. But here are some genuine facts and dispelled myths about the wheelie bin:

• Practical: wheelie bins are a simple method of removing waste. They are safer to handle than waste bags where protruding items such as glass can snag a rubbish removal man. It’s a common misconception that the elderly or disabled struggle to move wheelie bins but the truth is that if somebody can carry a black bag full of rubbish they can manoeuvre a wheelie bin.
• Wheelie bins can reduce waste. It is true that many councils do prefer wheelie bins to encourage a decline in the amount we throw away. But if we are allowed to dispose of whatever we like our council tax and rates will rise as a result – all councils are struggling to find landfill space to meet the nation’s needs.
• Wheelie bins are also claimed to be unsightly but a wheelie bin is no more unsightly than a conventional bin or pile of black sacks. Waste has to be stored in something and most wheelie bins are in a neutral colour and are unassuming.

And while wheelie bins are not the complete answer to the problems of limited landfill and an increasing population alongside recycling bins, litter bins and other rubbish bins, they play a crucial role in part of the nation’s rubbish and waste management.