FAQ - Landfill Wheeled Bin

Why are wheelie bins being introduced for household refuse?
What if I can’t accomodate a wheeled bin?
How big will the wheelie bins be?
What will happen to the wheeled bin if I move house?
Why does the lid have to be completely closed?
Will I be able to leave out additional waste as well as that contained in my wheeled bin?
What if my wheeled bin is full before my next collection is due?
What if my bin gets damaged?
Will the bins have identity ‘chips’?
I am elderly/disabled and can’t manage a wheeled bin
What if I don’t have room or access for a wheeled bin?
What if I live in a flat and cannot cope with a wheelie bin?
What if a standard size wheeled bin is too big for my needs?
I have a large family and the wheeled bin will not be large enough
Could there be problems with flies, smells or rats due to the wheeled bins?
Won't my wheeled bin get very dirty and smelly?
Could I put my grass cuttings and other garden waste in my household refuse wheelie bin?
Will it matter if the lid will not shut on my wheelie bin?
Would leaving waste in a wheeled bin for up to 14 days cause health hazards?

Why are wheelie bins being introduced for household refuse?

Wheeled bins contain waste effectively, have health and safety benefits for the collectors, with greatly reduced risk of injuries, and prevent animals from generating unwanted litter by ripping bags open. They also limit the amount of rubbish each household can put out to be disposed of in landfill sites and therefore encourage householders to recycle more of their waste.

What if I can’t accomodate a wheeled bin?

Under the new service every household in the East Devon District will eventually receive a wheeled bin for general household waste. Under the new service, we will only collect non-recyclable waste contained in an EDDC landfill bin orother container provided by East Devon District Council. Black sacks left out at kerbside will not be collected.

How big will the wheelie bins be?

The size of the standard household refuse wheeled bins will be 180 litres.

What will happen to the wheeled bin if I move house?

The bin should stay with the property and should not be taken away when you move.  The bin remains the property of the Council.

Why does the lid have to be completely closed?
Following a safety issue with the emptying of the wheeled bins it has been agreed the crew will not empty a wheeled bin if the lid is not completely closed. If you are struggling with the capacity of the bin allocated to you please contact Customer Services and we can discuss alternative options.

Will I be able to leave out additional waste as well as that contained in my wheeled bin?

No. Only the waste contained in your wheeled bin with the lid closed will be collected. Any residual waste left out in bags alongside or on top of your bin would not be collected.

What if my wheeled bin is full before my next collection is due?

If you use the receptacles provided by the Council for all your recyclable or compostable materials, there should be plenty of room in your wheelie bin for the remaining non-recyclable waste. If you are unsure what you can recycle please return to home page and select your collection day.

What if my bin gets damaged?

Any damage to your bin, such as a hole, should be reported to the Council by calling 01395 571515. We will replace bins free of charge that were genuinely damaged when being emptied. Householders will be responsible for replacing bins that are willfully damaged.

Will the bins have identity ‘chips’?

Computer chips will not be injected into the body of the bins. 

I am elderly/disabled and can’t manage a wheeled bin

The council recognises that, for some people, putting wheeled bins / recycling boxes out for collection is outside their capability. Therefore, an enhanced service is provided for the infirm and disabled following assessment being completed by a Council officer to confirm genuine need.

Assistance will not be provided if there is an able bodied person living at a property or if neighbours are willing to assist. Householders who currently receive assistance will continue to do so under the new service. Please contact the Customer Services if you would like assistance with your waste/recycling collections and they will send you a form to be completed

 Smaller wheeled bins, roughly half the size of the standard bins, will also be available for households that request them.

What if I don’t have room or access for a wheeled bin?

The council does recognise that some residents will be unable to accommodate a wheeled bin. These householders can request a gull sack collection service with the Council supplying the sacks subject to an assessment by Council officers. Smaller bins are also available on request.

What if I live in a flat and cannot cope with a wheelie bin?

Many flats will receive larger communal wheelie bins which will be shared between the properties, based on an assessment by Council officers.

What if a standard size wheeled bin is too big for my needs?

Smaller 140 litre wheelie bins are available, please contact Customer Services.

I have a large family and the wheeled bin will not be large enough

Households with 5 or more people will be able to request additional capacity and based on an assessment a 240-litre bin will be provided if the request is approved by Council officers.

Could there be problems with flies, smells or rats due to the wheeled bins?

There should be no health issues surrounding residual waste being stored in wheeled bins. Flies and smells will not be a nuisance if the bins are used properly, particularly as the Council will be collecting food waste separately on a weekly basis.

Maggots can appear within 8 to 12 hours of eggs being laid by flies in warm weather and have always been present in weekly collected general waste. Wheeled bins would significantly reduce the ability of flies to get into bins to lay eggs provided the bin lid is kept closed. Storing the bin in a shady position and using insecticide occasionally on the inside bin surfaces can also help.

We advise you rinse your bin out regularly and keep it clean. Rats will not be able to get inside the bins provided the lids are kept closed.

Won't my wheeled bin get very dirty and smelly?

It shouldn’t, provided basic housekeeping rules are followed. If your bin does become dirty, we advise that you swill it out with disinfectant or bicarbonate of soda after it has been emptied. You should rinse containers where appropriate and, when your bin is empty, you can place a newspaper in the base to soak up excess liquid.You can place your waste in carrier or black bags in the bin which will assist in keeping it clean

Could I put my grass cuttings and other garden waste in my household refuse wheelie bin?

No. We do not collect garden waste. Householders can compost at home and / or take their garden waste to their nearest Household Recycling Centre.

Waste bins which are contaminated with garden waste will not be emptied.

Will it matter if the lid will not shut on my wheelie bin?

Yes. Lids that are not closed tightly on collection have been known to swing open prematurely whilst being hoisted up at the rear of the vehicle for emptying. This has resulted in the machinery becoming jammed or the bin falling into the hopper. Health and Safety issues prevent the bin being recovered and it is crushed along with the rest of the load requiring the bin to be replaced.

Would leaving waste in a wheeled bin for up to 14 days cause health hazards?

No. From other councils’ experience, it has not been proven that this type of collection service causes health hazards. Concerns regarding bin smells, flies and vermin are unfounded as long as basic housekeeping rules are followed and the lids on bins are kept closed.

 The new food waste collection service will mean that the vast majority of potentially ‘smelly’ waste that could attract insects will still be removed weekly, as it is now. Bin lids should always be closed to stop flies getting in and, if possible, you should store your bin out of direct sunlight in a shaded area.

If you dispose of pet faeces in your refuse, place in a securely tied plastic bag before disposing of it.

Page last updated on 29 March 2010