Wheelie Bin Fire Safety

Did you know that wheel bin fires can spread very swiftly and be extremely dangerous? Bins can also be a target for fire setting. That’s why you should take steps to protect yourself and your property.

Wheelie bin fires

Everyone is busy, and it can feel unimportant to look after your bins.

Here are some reasons why you should be concerned about wheelie bin fires:

  • Bins are made of plastic and release toxic chemicals when burned, harming the environment.

  • These fires can easily spread to nearby buildings and vehicles. This places you in danger and cost you money.

  • Poor wheelie bin management can encourage arson and other crime or anti-social behaviour.

Luckily, there are some straightforward steps you can take to help avoid becoming a target.

Look after your bins

We can take our wheelie bins for granted. But follow our tips to make it less likely you’ll have a wheelie bin fire:

  1. Only put your bin out shortly before collection.

  2. Remove your bin from the street quickly after your waste is collected.

  3. Store your bin out of sight in between collections if this is possible.

  4. If you can, securely store your bins at least 2m away from any buildings.

Avoid these common mistakes

  1. Don’t overfill your bin, or place waste on top or next to it.

  2. Avoid placing your bins under covered areas like porches that are attached to a building.

  3. Never put hot coals inside – these can start an accidental fire.

If you see a fire

You might see a fire involving your or someone else’s wheelie bin. If you do, don’t try to extinguish it yourself. This is when many people get hurt.

Instead, stay away from the area and call the fire service on 999. Our firefighters have the training and equipment to extinguish fires safely.

If you spot any illegal or anti-social activity, you can report it to the police on 111, or 999 if it’s an emergency.