Rubbish bins are an essential part of any building or premises, especially when members of the public are around. Ensuring there is somewhere to dispose of litter is important to keep the property clean but there are some important aspects to think about when installing and buying rubbish bins.

Hotel Bins often have to be fire retardant

Fire

An unfortunate side effect of most rubbish bins is that a lot of the litter can catch alight. Fires in public buildings can be catastrophic and even if no smoking policies are instilled in the area fires can still start, either accidentally or maliciously.

Fire retardant bins are especially important in buildings like hotels and hospitals where a fire could go unnoticed and spread before it can be dealt with.

Security

In busy pedestrian areas another aspect to think about is security. Bins have in the past been used to hide explosive devices in and a blast in a densely populated area could have terrible consequences.

See-though sack holders are often used in public areas like railway stations and airports. These prevent any suspicious package from being hidden inside as the contents of the bin are clearly visible.

Smells and Mess

Preventing smells and are also another consideration. Bins can be knocked over – deliberately or otherwise – so public bins should be mounted to either the floor or wall. If there is a food-premises around then you need to install a bin with a good fitting lid to prevent smells as this is unhygienic as well as repugnant – flies and other pest could be attracted to the bin.

Sourcing bins for public areas is not as simple as most people first think and if proper thought does not go into the problems that could occur then the rubbish bin could land you into trouble.

]]> http://www.imrubbish.co.uk/blog/2010/11/rubbish-bin-security-%e2%80%93-importance-of-providing-safe-public-waste-bins/feed/ 0 http://www.imrubbish.co.uk/blog/2010/06/picking-up-after-students-%e2%80%93-bins-for-local-authorities/ http://www.imrubbish.co.uk/blog/2010/06/picking-up-after-students-%e2%80%93-bins-for-local-authorities/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:23:02 +0000 Richard N Williams http://www.imrubbish.co.uk/blog/?p=189 There has been quite a bit of bad press about the littering caused by students in some university towns. And in many areas where residents live in local proximity to local schools, college or universities, littering is a cause for tension between the local community and the educational establishment. The problem with litter around education [...]


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]]> There has been quite a bit of bad press about the littering caused by students in some university towns. And in many areas where residents live in local proximity to local schools, college or universities, littering is a cause for tension between the local community and the educational establishment.

The problem with litter around education buildings is the sheer number of people that use these areas. But neither the students or the schools or colleges are to blame. Often the cause of the littering and the discontent amongst the local community is as a result of bad planning with the areas litter bins and bins for the public.

Student Lifestyle

Students also have an active lifestyle and consume more packaging and fast food products than regular consumers which often leads to a greater amount of litter in areas with a high student population.

This is often overlooked by local authorities who find that the number, type and frequency of emptying of their litter bins is often underestimated causing overflowing bins and strewn litter.

Bin collections too are often too infrequent in these locations and it is often forgotten that in student areas there are many adults living under the same roof so the amount of household litter will also be higher than in residential areas.

Increasing the frequency of collections in these areas will reduce the litter in the residential parts of town.

Public Bins

Around the high street the public bins may need replacing or increasing in number. If there is littering then it is likely there is one of three problems:

• There are not enough public outdoor bins
• The outdoor bins are not large enough
• The public bins are in the wrong location

If the local bins are often full then the problem is going to be size or number. However, it is quite common for the high street litter bins to be half empty but there is still a high level of litter. This may often be because the litter bins are in the wrong location. Ensure fast food outlets and main thoroughfares are covered with large capacity outdoor bins.

Public litter bins

Increasing the number of bins around an area will also reduce the amount of litter but this there is often an added cost to doing this as there will be more bins to empty. By replacing the public litter bins with larger ones this will prevent additional costs from occurring.

But bin smells can be prevented and often there is usually a root cause why your kitchen or external bin is attracting flies and creating a stench:

The Right Bin

Often the problem causing bins smells s that the wrong bin is being used for the job. When sourcing a bin it is important you think about the type of waste that is being disposed of. Kitchen waste and other organic material is often what causes bin smells so you need to choose an appropriate kitchen bin that has been designed to hold this sort of waste.

External bins too are often a cause of smells and quite often it is because large amounts of kitchen and food waste are thrown away into the wrong type of external bin. If you have catering business you need to ensure the external bin you choose is manufactured to eb able to deal with large amounts of food waste.

The Bin Lid

One of the biggest causes of bin smells is a badly fitting lid. The bin lid is incredibly important for external bins and kitchen bins, or any other type of bin that has to hold rotting waste. The lid needs to fit well and remember, for external bins they need to be able to prevent vermin and pests from entering too.

Bin Lids are key to reducing smells

Over full bin

Another cause of smells is that the bin should have been emptied. A bin that is too full may prevent the lid from closing which will cause smells but also there may just be too much stuff in there for it to contain the gases escaping from them.

For external bins you also need to make sure the bin can’t be knocked over easiliy as a spilled bin will cause smells and mess.

Bin Deodorisers

Bin deodorisers are a good short term fix and useful if you are dealing with some really strong smelling waste. These can mask a lot of smells and prevent the bin from becoming tainted by the smells of the waste it normally holds.

Care sector bins have to function under far more demanding circumstances that conventional rubbish receptacles. From the type of waste to the vast quantities of waste that can accumulate in the care or service industry means that when it comes to sourcing bins for the service or care sector, a lot of thought needs to go into it.

Firstly, the type of material that is discarded will influence the type of receptacle required. Any service industry or care work that involves infants will need somewhere to dispose of soiled nappies. Smells and risk of access from children means that large nappy bins have to have a good fitting lid.

Sanitary bins

Other types of sanitary bins are required in the care sector too. Geriatric care and medical procedures require bins to dispose of this material. Any sanitary bin has to store items that have the potential to cause infection so the quality of the bin can’t be a compromise.

Fire retardant bins are also a consideration in many buildings in the care and service sector. Any public bin at a hospital has to be fire retardant as the risks of a fire could be catastrophic so most hospital bins are fire retardant.

Finally, you must plan carefully remember the to assess how much waste is going to be disposed of and of what type. It is also crucial to know how often the bin will be emptied as this will have a large impact on the size required. Also think of the people that will be using the bins. Children need to be prevented from accessing hazardous material while any bins that re to be accessed by the aged or infirm needs to be easy to use.

Sourcing and buying good quality bins for the service sector isn’t necessarily difficult. Choose a vendor with experience and that can supply a large range of bins to ensure you are always supplied with they type you need.

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.

And while disposable nappies are quick and easy to use they are also expensive with a new born child easily costing between £2,000-£4,000 ($3,500 – $7,500) on disposable nappies and diapers alone.

And washable nappies are not as bothersome, cumbersome or messy as you may imagine. In fact, changing a washable nappy can be just as quick and easy as changing a disposable. Of course, they have to be washed but a weeks worth of nappies can easily fit in one load of most modern washing machines and if you cut down on unnecessary softeners and detergents you can minimise any environmental impact.

The only thing required is a good quality nappy bin. And even if you work in the service industry, social or care surrounding, or nursery and kindergarten settings, there is no need to have soiled nappies lying about and the washing machine on constantly.

A modern large capacity nappy bin can easily store a weeks worth of nappies, even from the busiest service industry setting. And if the nappy bin is well built and from a reputable supplier of nappy bins then it can store soiled nappies and diapers without any smells or mess.

Some modern nappy bins even have chutes for added hygiene and discretion.

The only other requirements for returning to washable nappies are a good supply of safety pins, although modern reusable sticky seals can be used for those fearing accidents with pins. And some modern washable nappies come with their own adhesion and attaching mechanism, so the old fashioned safety pin need not be used at all.

By returning to washable nappies, not only will it make a dramaitc difference to the waste that piles up in our land fills but the cost savings of using washable nappies and diapers can be staggering, especially in the service and care industry.

But unlike internal waste bins for our homes and offices, the public litter bin has to cope with higher demands and risks that are not a consideration external bins.

Public bins have to have a larger capacity than those we use in our homes. While we may have half-a-dozen people at home throwing rubbish and litter in it, a public waste bin will have hundreds and perhaps thousands.

They also have to be sturdy. Even the common-or-garden plastic dustbin or trash can would not last too long in a public environment. Many of the public waste receptacles are manufactured from tough polymers that are not only resistant to the rigours of the weather but can they are often fire proof, an important consideration with something that may sit on a high street amongst the general public

Sadly, bins in outdoor locations have to be resistant to vandals and thieves too. For this reason many are wall mounted of bolted to the floor. Some public bins even have a locking mechanism to prevent people from emptying the contents on the floor.

They also have to come in numerous designs for the types of locations they may be placed in and the types of waste they are likely to encounter. Hospital bins, wall mounted ashtrays, bins for schools, high streets, and parks all require different designs.

Outdoor bins need also to be plentiful. If there are not enough of them then littering will soon become a problem. Many people will use bins if they are there, but if not, they may be inclined to dispose of there rubbish on the pavement.

And the right location is just as important. Along busy while they may be unsightly, they still need to be placed along thoroughfares and be clearly visible. A litter bin tucked around the corner or hidden behind a building will be useless. They need to clearly visible and accessible otherwise they just won’t get used.