How to care for your wheelie bin!
Don’t
- Put your bin out too early: It is best to put your bin out on the day of collection to avoid leaving it on the pavement for long periods. If you need to put it out the night before please try to leave it as late as possible.
- Place your bin in a position where it will block footpaths and force people to walk into the road to get around it: Any accidents caused by careless placement of a bin is the fault of the person responsible for putting it out.
- Leave your bin in the road where it will be a danger to passing traffic.
- Over fill your bin: If you can’t shut the lid rubbish can spill out, when it's being moved or in windy weather. An overfilled bin is also likely to be too heavy for our collection crews to move safely.
- Leave empty bins in exposed places in bad weather: Empty bins are more likely to get blown over in strong winds and can quickly fill with water in heavy rain.
- Put any plastic bags or refuse sacks into your green wheelie bin as these can contaminate the material being sent for composting: One contaminated bin can lead to a whole truck load of green waste being sent to landfill instead of being composted.
Do
- Take your bin from the roadside as soon as you can after it has been emptied: Empty bins are more likely to be blown over in the wind and can cause damage
- Double wrap all food waste to help reduce unwanted odours and slow down the rate of decomposition
- Spray around the top of your bin from time to time with fly repellent to help make your bin as unattractive to flies as possible.
- Reduce the strain on your bin by making as much use of your recycling box as possible: The more that you recycle the less rubbish you will need to put in your bin and the easier it will be to move.
- Wash your bin out regularly with a hose or watering can and a small amount of detergent: This will keep the inside smelling fresh and the outside free of dirt and spilled material
- Help out your neighbours by putting their bins out when they are on holiday: They’re bound to return the favour and you need never miss a collection because you’re away again.
- Take care of your bin: They are the property of North Devon District Council and are designed to be as hardwearing as possible. If your bin does get damaged let us know immediately so that we can arrange for a replacement to be delivered. If the damage is no fault of your own you will qualify for a free replacement.
