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Commercial waste bins
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Commercial rubbish and recycling bins
Storing general business waste and recycling in commercial waste bins is essential for maintaining a clean and safe working environment.
Use our Commercial Waste Quotes service today, and our waste experts will arrange the free delivery of your commercial waste bins. The rental of your bins is included in your monthly commercial waste collection cost.
In this guide, we help small business owners select the right commercial waste bin. We cover:
Types of commercial waste bin
Our commercial waste experts offer a range of commercial waste bins to suit all business needs.
To help you choose your commercial waste bin, below are the most popular bins used for general waste and mixed recycling collections by most small businesses in the UK.
💡See below for dedicated commercial recycling bins and specialist bin types.
Standard wheelie bin
- Size: 120 to 240 litres
- Material: Plastic
- Best for: General waste storage producing general non-recyclable waste by small businesses.
Commercial wheelie bin
- Size: 600 to 1,110 litres
- Material: Plastic / Metal
- Best for: Simple and cost-effective storage of large quantities of commercial waste.
Front-end loader bin
- Size: 4,000 to 8,000 litres
- Materials: Metal
- Best for: Businesses producing large volumes of dry waste with a dedicated waste area.
Choosing the right commercial waste bin
In a typical commercial waste contract, you choose a commercial waste bin at the contract’s start, which will be delivered before your first scheduled collection.
We recommend choosing a commercial waste bin that will continue to be suitable for your business for several years. Here are the important points to consider:
- Size: Choose a large enough bin to store all your waste between collections to avoid problems with foxes and other pests. See below for our size guide.
- Space: Ensure that your chosen bin will fit on your premises.
- Access: On collection days, your waste provider will need access to your bins with a lorry. Choose a commercial waste bin with wheels if you need to move your bins out onto the kerb on collection day.
- Material: You will be responsible for any damage to your commercial waste bin. If damage is likely to occur, we recommend choosing a metal bin instead of plastic.
- Security: For businesses with high-value waste, such as commercial metal recycling, we recommend requesting a bin with a locking mechanism.
Commercial waste bin sizes and dimensions
The table below explains the typical commercial waste bin sizes and dimensions offered by our trusted commercial waste providers.
| Bin type | Bin size | Number of bin bags | Dimension (H,W,D) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard wheelie bin | 240 litres | 2 | 1.1m x 0.6m x 0.7m |
| Standard commercial wheelie bin | 660 litres | 8 | 1.3m x 0.7m x 1.3m |
| Large commercial wheelie bin | 1,100 litres | 12 | 1.4m x 1.0m x 1.3m |
| Standard front-end loader | 6,100 litres | 72 | 2.0m x 2.2m x 2.1m |
We recommend calculating the maximum number of waste bags your business will likely produce between scheduled commercial waste collections.
Commercial recycling bins
To achieve the lowest waste collection costs, it’s crucial to segregate recyclable waste and arrange for separate collections of each waste type.
For each type of commercial recycling collection, you’ll receive a separate bin to store your waste between pick-ups.
Here are the most popular types of commercial recycling bins used by small businesses, along with important tips on avoiding contamination of each waste type.
Commercial glass recycling bin
A dedicated commercial glass recycling bin is used to store rinsed glass bottles and jars. It’s important to remove bottle lids and caps and to avoid including broken glass.
Commercial cardboard recycling bin
A dedicated commercial cardboard recycling bin stores flattened cardboard boxes. Avoid including non-recyclable packaging, such as polystyrene.
Commercial food waste bin
A dedicated commercial food waste bin stores food scraps and other organic waste. Avoid including excess liquid, such as used cooking oil.
Specialist commercial waste bins
Our waste experts connect British businesses with a wide range of specialist waste collection services.
In this section, we summarise the specialist waste bins offered across our range of commercial waste collection services:
Confidential waste bin
Confidential waste bins are lockable and feature a narrow slot to prevent the removal of deposited paper and e-waste items.
Cardboard balers
Balers are used by businesses that produce large volumes of commercial cardboard recycling to save on cardboard storage space between collections.
Compactors
Compactors compress general business waste to reduce storage, and they are used by businesses that produce large volumes of general waste.
Waste safe
Waste safes are used to securely store hazardous waste such as batteries, aerosols, and valuable electronic waste.
Sharps bins
Sharps bins are designed to safely store used needles, syringes, lancets, and other types of clinical waste that can puncture the skin.
Sanitary waste bins
Sanitary waste bins are typically small plastic bins with a pedal or automatic lid used in female and unisex toilets.
Commercial waste storage obligations
Commercial waste regulations set out clear guidelines for storing commercial waste. Here’s a summary of the waste storage obligations:
- Store waste in a secure place.
- Use suitable containers that will prevent waste from escaping.
- Label containers clearly with the type of waste they contain.
- Use covers to stop waste from blowing away.
- Use waterproof covers if rain could cause contaminated run-off or prevent the waste from being reused.
Source: UK Gov – Sorting and storing commercial waste.
💡 There is a slight variation between devolved commercial waste regulations, but the summary above applies to all home nations.
Commercial waste disposal providers help your business fulfil these obligations by including bin hire within your contract.