With spring around the corner it is a good time to begin preparing the garden for the warmer months. At this time of year a lot of garden waste can have built up over the winter and not only can it take a lot of work to get things in order, a decent gardening bin is required to get rid of the waste.

Increasingly, local councils are insisting that garden waste is disposed of separately to household waste, this is because it is degradable and can be used to make mulch, compost and other organic materials used in agriculture. This means that a separate bin is needed for the garden and with larger gardens, a good-sized garden bin is pretty much essential to keep the garden clear as the amount of waste like mown grass, weeding and other gardening activities produce can soon build up.

There are several different designs of gardening bin to choose from and they come in a wide variety of sizes too. Many garden waste bins are similar to the traditional dustbin, although commonly they are coloured green to help users identify the type of waste that goes into it, although any colour can be used for the job.

A good lid is important for a gardening bin as some waste in the garden can begin to rot and smell and will prevent wind from blowing grass cuttings and other waste around the garden after you have cleared it up.

These dustbin-type bins can be difficult to move around so increasingly wheelie bins are being used which allow householders to wheel the garden waste from the back to the front of the house ready for collection.

Waste is a key part of any business -whilst reducing waste can help increase profitability – it can never be totally eliminated and all businesses have to deal cope with waste management.

Rubbish and waste in some businesses is often minimal and requires little more thought than the removal of rubbish from our homes does. However, in some industries, rubbish removal and waste management can be an integral part of a running a successful business and should never be dealt with lightly:

Food Industry

In the UK there are more fast-food restaurants, diners and takeaways, per person than in any other nation on earth* and all that takeaway food can result in masses of waste that the fast food industry has to deal with.

In the fast food business the rubbish discarded comes in two types:

• Packaging and wrapping
• Food waste

And each has to be dealt with differently.

Packaging and wrapping from fast food items is often discarded close to the premises and businesses need to work with their local authority to ensure there are enough public bins and external bins for litter.

Food waste has to be handled differently, however. Food can attract vermin and can also lead to unpleasant smells. For general use inside the business a good kitchen bin should be used. It needs to be large enough to handle day-to-day waste while also should have a well-fitted lid. You may find for ease of use a pedal bin or sensor bin will be prevent the need from handling it.

Externally – food waste needs to be stored in an outdoor bin which also has a good lid. External bins will also need to be sturdy to prevent them being toppled by vermin.

Office Paper and Recycling

Offices are another common business area that can amass large amounts of waste. Generally most office waste comes in the form of paper.

Paper can of course be recycled so a good paper recycling bin or container should be kept to allow the paper to be collected and recycled. There should be some risk assessment into storing paper as it is a potential fire risk. If waste aper is discarded to an outdoor area a fire retardant bin might be worth a consideration.

Large Capacity Recycling Bin

Steel large capacity recycling bins are a good idea for nearly all types of businesses that discards a lot of recyclable material. There are also recycling bins for collection of plastic cups – another common item discarded from business.

There was a time that most of us had only one bin. A large plastic or metal container that sat in the back yard or alley. All our household waste would end up in this dustbin, which was conveniently emptied, without contention, every week.

But times move on and now with more and more emphasis on recycling and with local authorities trying to minimise waste disposal, the number of bins householders require has now increased.

Recycling bins are a vital tool for any household that is recycling as they separate conventional waste with recyclable items. And they are numerous in type too with recycling bins for paper, glass, cans; gardening bins, composting bins, nappy bins.

And with so many different types of recycling bin and differing requirements for recycling. It can be confusing to decide what and how many recycling bins are needed.

But there are products out there that can make life easier and some can even help save money as well as the environment.

Recycling bins for bottles, glass and cans

There is really no need for this type of bin at home but for businesses or institutions these are important to ensure people separate the recyclable items that are commonly consumed in these environments. And don’t forget, tins and cans can even be redeemed for cash if they are of the right metal.

Household recycling bin

Householders will often be supplied with recycling bins outside for the external waste. Different councils provide different bins for different waste but there should be clear notice of what materials should be disposed of in each. For indoor use a good recycling bin for the kitchen is probably a good idea. Some of these have several compartments so its easy to separate was when it first gets thrown away.

And if you have a new born, are expecting, or work in the child care industry. A good quality nappy bin is essential. By returning to washable nappies you can dramatically reduce your waste as well as save a fortune on disposable nappies an diapers. Large capacity nappy bins are available that can handle even the busiest nursery or child care setting.

Whatever type of recycling bin is required you should ensure its a good quality recycling bin and from a reputable supplier. There are really three things to remember when you are looking for recycling bins: It should be well manufactured; Practical and modern in design; Have a good quality lid that fits to prevents smells.

They say that in the city, you are never more than ten yards from a rat, whether this is true or not, one thing is clear, if you live in an urban area rubbish bags and unsecured bins are a real menace when it comes to attracting vermin.

The increase in littering around the cities is a worsening problem; paths strewn with litter and household waste are becoming commonplace – not because there has been a huge increase in vermin – but because quite often people’s external bins and dustbins are not up to the job.

And with more and more local authorities employing littering officers you could find yourself liable to a fine if you allow you allow vermin to litter your rubbish across the pavement.

Some of us have a dustbin, wheelie bin or other waste bin supplied to us by the local authorities, and while in some areas these are of good quality, other local authorities try to save money by supplying poor quality external bins or none at all.

If no bin is provided the weekly ritual of bin bags being ripped open by cats, foxes and rats continues and the streets, even in some affluent areas, can become filthy. Decent outside containers and waste collectors are often neglected by local businesses too and with the amount of waste that some takeaway and fast food places throw away, they exaggerate the problem many time.

But there is no need to rely on the local authority to supply a good quality external bin or good quality outdoor container – as they are not expensive and are readily available in a multitude of styles, shapes and colours.

Choose the style of bin that will suit your requirements, perhaps you need a large hooded waste container or just a traditional dustbin-like outdoor container would suffice. Whatever style you go for, whether its fa ree-standing bin or hooded waste container make sure its large enough for you requirements.

An overfull bin will be as useful as no bin at all when it comes to keeping vermin away so size is importance as is quality. Whatever style you opt for make sure it has a good quality lid and is stable so vermin won’t be able to tip them over.