Commercial Bin Storage: Keeping Your Waste Organised This Winter

Rain, wind and darker mornings can make an outdoor bin area harder to manage. Cardboard left beside containers can become soaked, loose packaging can blow across a yard, and cluttered access routes can complicate collections. 

Reviewing your commercial bin storage before winter takes hold can help keep waste contained and your premises organised. For shops, offices, workshops and warehouses, a few practical checks are a useful place to start. 

Check Your Commercial Waste Bins 

Start with the containers themselves. Are lids closing properly, are there cracks, damaged wheels or other problems that need reporting and attention?

Commercial waste bins should suit the materials being stored and have enough capacity between collections. If waste regularly prevents a lid from closing, discuss container sizes or collection frequency with your provider as soon as possible. 

Keep different waste streams clearly labelled so staff know where materials belong. Government guidance recommends secure storage, suitable containers and covers to prevent waste escaping or blowing away. 

Protect Paper and Cardboard from Rain 

Retail deliveries, warehouse operations and office activity can all generate paper and cardboard that need storing before collection. 

Keep these materials inside suitable commercial recycling bins or an appropriate covered storage area. Flatten boxes where required by your collection service, and avoid leaving loose stacks beside an overflowing container. 

Protection from the weather should form part of your waste storage arrangements, alongside keeping recyclable materials separate from anything that could contaminate them. 

Can Wet Cardboard Be Recycled? 

Acceptance depends on its conditions and the recycling service involved. Some collection services advise against including wet cardboard because it can cause sorting problems. 

The practical approach is to keep cardboard dry wherever possible. If it becomes soaked or contaminated, check with your provider before adding it to your recycling collection. 

Review Where Your Bins Are Positioned 

A convenient summer storage spot may be more exposed during the winter months. 

Check whether wind catches open lids or loose packaging, and discuss a more suitable position if needed. Any change should still allow staff to use the bins and collection teams to reach them.

For shared premises, make sure everyone understands which containers they use and who reports damage or overflowing waste. Clear arrangements can help prevent materials accumulating between neighbouring businesses. 

Keep Collection Routes Accessible 

Review the route between your business waste bins and the collection point. 

Stock, pallets and parked vehicles can restrict access. Winter conditions add another reason to check these areas, particularly where surfaces become slippery or standing water collects. 

Include the bin area in your site’s winter checks and let your waste provider know about access changes. If conditions affect a collection, contact the team to discuss arrangements. 

Review Your Winter Waste Arrangements with WM101 

At WM101, we can help you review container sizes, waste streams and collection schedules around the way your premises operates. 

A workshop handling bulky packaging may need different provisions from an office or retail unit. For organisations with several locations, we can coordinate services centrally while retaining arrangements suited to each site. 

If your current bins or collections are no longer working for your business, speak to our team about the available options.