Tips for setting up litter bins to reduce waste

Whether in a public street, green space, or within a business premises, litter bins are a must for reducing waste. With an estimated 2 million pieces of litter discarded every day, cleanup is an expense that local authorities and businesses can do without. Not to mention the cost to the environment. Here’s our guide to setting up litter bins to reduce waste.

The real cost of littering

While litter bins are an expense, consider this. In 2019-20, local authorities spent almost £700 million cleaning up litter. Then there’s the damage to the environment and wildlife. Litter that’s discarded on streets and on business premises can end up in waterways where it causes harm to animals who get trapped in it or try to eat it. Plastic in particular is a problem when it gets into the environment because it can take hundreds of years to break down. All the while, it leaches toxins into soil and groundwater.

What kind of litter is most prevalent?

Well, we’ll start with some good news. It appears the UK’s litter situation is not all doom and gloom. Keep Britain Tidy’s latest Local Environmental Quality Survey of England found that litter has improved since its 2017-18 survey. 5% more sites had less litter than in the last survey. However, that doesn’t mean we can be complacent, as 9% of locations assessed did not meet an acceptable standard for litter. These were the most common types of litter found:

• Smoking-related litter - 77% of locations
• Confectionery packaging - 45% of locations
• Non-alcoholic drinks-related litter - 40% of locations
• Fast food-related litter - 27% of locations
• Packaging - 25% of locations

The results reflect the fact that more people now eat and drink on the go, whether they are out and about in towns and cities or heading in and out of the office. This means that setting up litter bins to reduce waste has become all the more important.

Setting up litter bins - What to consider

Bins are an essential investment for keeping public areas and business premises clean and tidy. However, you can’t just put any old bins anywhere. It pays to be strategic about it. Here’s how:

Locate your bins in high-traffic areas

Litter bins are more effective when they are visible and located in high-traffic areas. In public places, locating bins in busy areas like transport hubs, town centres, and near fast food outlets will help reduce ‘on the go’ litter. On business premises, locate them in high footfall areas like entrances and exits, communal areas, and meeting and staff rooms. If your litter bins are conveniently located and accessible, it makes it more likely that people will dispose of their waste responsibly.

Keep your bins clean, empty them often, and maintain them  

This next tip for setting up litter bins to reduce waste is equally as important. People won’t be inclined to use litter bins that are dirty, overly full, or poorly maintained. Regular cleaning, waste collection, and bin maintenance is essential to keep your bins looking good and staying functional.

Choose visually appealing litter bins

When it comes to bins and encouraging people to use them, it’s not all about looks, but it helps. From rustic wooden effect bins for parks to classic outdoor bins to suit any environment, a good looking bin will encourage use as well as enhancing the look of an area.

Opt for a design that meets your needs

Another consideration when choosing the perfect litter bins is making sure you have the bin(s) that meet your needs. Do you need a bin specifically for smoking-related litter on your business premises? What about an ultra-heavy-duty bin to prevent vandalism and withstand heavy daily use? You’ll find these and more in our online range.

In our range, you’ll find litter bins to suit all budgets and environments. Made from the highest-quality materials and designed to withstand heavy use and modern life, setting up litter bins to reduce waste has never been easier. If you’re looking for litter bins, get in touch with our friendly sales team, who’ll help you find your perfect match.

For more interesting articles on litter and reducing waste, check out the rest of our blog and why not check out some of our most popular articles:

- Musical Bins that reduce litter

- Irish Anti-Litter Campaign

Or check out our most popular bins

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