A refuse collector has shared a crucial tip for households ahead of storm season, warning that small food waste caddies are particularly vulnerable to being blown away by strong winds.
The advice comes as the UK prepares for blustery weather, which can topple bins and scatter foul-smelling food scraps across gardens and streets. The binman, known as The No1 Binman on TikTok, has more than 200,000 followers and regularly posts practical guidance on bin-related questions.
Food caddies 'like balloons' in winter
Speaking about the small food waste caddies, the binman said: "They are terrible in the winter, I'm not going to lie. I don't know who designed them. They're like balloons, they just blow off."
He encouraged householders to display their house number clearly on every bin, so that if the wind scatters bins from neighbouring properties, owners can quickly identify which belongs to them.
Simple trick to weigh down bins
Refuse collectors are typically advised to position bins behind walls to protect them from powerful gusts. However, when this is not possible, residents can place a straightforward item on top of their bins to add weight.
He said: "There's not much we can do about the wind, we can't just stop it. But you can put a bottle of water on top of your food caddy."
Any securely sealed container, such as a milk or juice carton, will work equally well, as long as it will not leak. This technique is especially beneficial during blustery periods and also helps discourage foxes and other nuisance animals from trying to get at the contents.
Other ways to secure bins
Another practical suggestion is to purchase a lock for your bin, which will not stop it from toppling over but will prevent the contents from scattering across the garden.
Rather than leaving the bin out overnight, residents could set an alarm and put it out in the morning. The shorter the time it is left outside, the fewer opportunities it has to blow away.
