Waste containers

We select waste containers to suit the specific needs of Household Waste Recycling Centres. These sites handle a high turnover of different waste streams delivered directly by residents, and the purpose of each station must be easy to identify from clear signage.

The type and number of containers depend on the expected number of residents served by the recycling centre.

We adapt the layout and labelling of individual stations to the site regulations and to the list of waste types accepted under the permit. This makes it easy for residents to find the right place for each type of waste. We also advise on organising traffic on site so that deliveries of different waste streams do not get in each other's way.

A typical recycling centre uses a set of containers in a range of sizes. Smaller containers of a few hundred litres take waste streams produced in small quantities, such as used electrical equipment or batteries. Large KP skips take bulky waste, construction rubble and green waste, which arrive in larger volumes, especially in spring and autumn.

Signage at each station should be legible from several metres away. A resident arriving by car with a load of waste needs to identify the correct place before parking. This is why large information boards are popular as an addition to the standard labels on the containers themselves, especially at sites that accept many waste streams.

Containers at recycling centres must withstand far more intensive use than typical residential bins. They face frequent impacts from trolleys, heavy items being dropped and contact with the sharp edges of scrap metal. Reinforced designs that resist mechanical damage are therefore the norm.

Staff at recycling centres usually also work from a site plan showing the location of each station, which is updated whenever the waste collection permit changes. A well-designed layout reduces the need for frequent reorganisation and makes it easier to train new staff.

The ground around container stations should be hard-surfaced and able to withstand point loads from loaded trolleys or trailers. Otherwise the area around the containers soon becomes uneven. This makes it harder for residents to deliver waste and for the waste contractor to collect full containers in all weathers.

Seasonal changes in waste volumes should be taken into account at the design stage, for example the rise in green waste in spring and the influx of leaves and branches in autumn. Additional space should be set aside for manoeuvring and for extra containers during peak periods.