Before the wheel came into existence, bins were about but not in the same form and shape as you know them today. The first actual wheelie bins in their most primitive form were used in Pompeii. This was more of a car with wheels than a wheelie bin but it did the same job as the one you have in your household.

Metal was the material of choice for bins for the longest time but in the 80s this changed for a large majority of the world. Invented in 1968, the plastic wheelie bin took some time to become common since not all trucks were fitted with bin lifting mechanisms straight away. Today, wheelie bins in Australia are as widespread as trash itself.

Wheelie Bin Materials

HDPE

HDPE or high-density polyethylene as it's also known is quite a robust material that is resistant to chemicals and UV radiation. This is probably the most common material for wheelie bins. If you want to buy eco wheelie bins that are easy to recycle as well as being light and corrosion resistant HDPE ones are your best bet.

PP

An alternative to HDPE, PP or polypropylene wheelie bins are as durable and as resistant to chemicals as their longer-worded counterparts. For outdoor use, PP bins are perfect since they are made to withstand adverse weather conditions due to their excellent strength but don't expect them to be as safe for the environment as HDPE bins.

Steel

In a world filled with plastic bins, steel bins are still found since they're favoured by people for their strength and security. Industrial-grade steel is used in the manufacturing of bins but mostly in heavy-duty applications and where vandalism is present.

Do's and Don'ts of Wheelie Bins

Smell

We all want to have our rubbish as far away from us in case it starts to smell but that shouldn't be the case at all. A bad smell coming out of your wheelie bin is bad for everyone which is why you should wrap up the contents and put them in the back garden instead. This way no one walking past your home will be disturbed by the foul smell. Washing your bin regularly can also help get rid of lingering odours.

Overfilling

Overfilling your wheelie bins in Australia is just as bad as having a foul-smelling one. That's because it doesn't just look bad but sometimes, an overfilled bin can be left by the council. If you do make too much trash then consider getting a larger bin or have the council go for another round of pick-up.

Mind the Day

Talking about getting your trash picked up, you should keep the day of pick up in mind in order to avoid the above two. Check out your area's schedule of when your local refuse collector sends out their vehicle so that you get your bin out on time without it being in the way of others.

Placement

Where you have your bin placed be it on collection day or any other day of the week matters as you don't want it obstructing others. You should avoid placing your wheelie bin on a driveway, cycle path, footpath and bus stops. Make sure that it's not going to be hit by anyone, meaning that it's not in the way of anyone.

Maintenance

Wheelie bin maintenance isn't much work since if yours gets damaged then you should contact the council. Otherwise, make sure to keep both the inside and outside clean. Even if a wheel is wonky, it's always best to get a new bin instead of trying to fix it yourself.

What Matters in a Wheelie Bin

Size

The size of a wheelie bin for sale is determined by a household's waste generation but not every household makes the same amount of trash. Typically though, anywhere from 60L to 80L of waste capacity is enough but if your family is greater in numbers than the Aussie standard of 2 or 3, then you should buy wheelie bins with a capacity of 120L. A wheelie bin for sale with a capacity larger than 120L is mainly used by large restaurants, hotels and even in industrial settings if you go all the way to 1280L.

Colour

While the colour of the bin is either dark green or black, it's the colour of the lid that matters when it comes to proper waste management. For instance, a bin lid with red on it means it's used for general waste disposal while one with a blue lid is used for paper and cardboard recycling. A wheelie bin for sale with a burgundy lid is made for food waste while one with an orange lid is used for soft plastics recycling. Green waste is put in bins with lime green lids while bins with yellow lids are for mixed recycling.