Wheelie bins are often used by those involved in anti-social behaviour and low level crime to provide fuel for deliberate fires.
Often bins are wheeled to another location and the set alight, but lives and property can be endangered when wheelie bins are torched close to a home. Wheelie bin fires release toxic fumes and smoke which pollute the environment.
We would like to urge residents and businesses to store all bins away to avoid them becoming a target for arsonists.
Don't let your bin become a target
- Store all wheelie bins away, especially at night, to avoid them becoming a target for arsonists
- Only place your wheelie bin out on collection day and return it to your property as soon as possible after collection
- Whenever possible, wheelie bins should be stored securely behind locked gates
- Do not overfill your wheelie bins or leave loose rubbish around them
General wheelie bin safety advice
- Don't place hot items in the bin, for example: smoking materials, hot embers from coal/wood or hot ash
- Don't store wheelie bins by windows or doors, a fire in the bin could easily spread to your property
- Never put batteries in your general rubbish bin or with other recyclable materials like card, metals and plastics.
- Always take unwanted electrical items or lithium-ion batteries to your local household waste recycling centre. You can find your local recycling centre here.