A binman has shared advice for Britons preparing for windy weather, urging them to weigh down their food waste caddies with a bottle of water and to label their bins clearly with house numbers.
With storm season approaching, strong gusts can knock over bins, particularly the small caddies used for food waste. The binman, known as The No1 Binman on TikTok, has more than 200,000 followers and regularly posts answers to public queries about bin contents.
Simple trick to stop bins blowing away
Speaking about the food waste caddies, he explained: "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 advised homeowners to have their house number printed clearly on each bin so they can identify their own if the wind scatters them. He noted that binmen are generally taught to keep bins behind a wall for shelter, but when that is not possible, placing a bottle of water on top of the caddy can weigh it down.
Additional tips for windy days
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 container that can be firmly closed, such as a milk or juice carton, will work.
This trick also helps deter foxes and other pests from accessing the bin's contents. Another tip is to invest in a lock for the bin, which prevents debris from scattering even if the bin blows over. Homeowners are also advised to put bins out in the morning rather than leaving them out overnight, reducing the time they are exposed to strong winds.
