Skip to content

Bins that won't close may not be emptied by council

Mark Simpson
BBC News NI community correspondent
Getty Images Black bin with black bin bags overflowing around it and the lid is open. The bin is on a pavement by a stone wall with greenery. Getty Images
Bins which have been overfilled more than once will be issued with a red tag and not collected

Household bins in Belfast which are so full that the lid cannot close may soon not be emptied by Belfast City Council.

A new zero-tolerance policy is set to be enforced before the end of June.

Bins which have been overfilled will be issued with a red tag and not collected.

Additional sensors are currently being added to newly manufactured bin lorries which would mean any bin presented with a raised lid will trigger the sensor and the bin lifter will cut out.

The plan was backed by a City Hall committee on Tuesday night, and is likely to be ratified by the full council at the start of May.

Bedding-in period

A bin on a street in Belfast which is over flowing
The report says the current system is often "running contrary to council policy"

Health and safety issues were cited as the reason for the new policy.

There is also a proposed ban on bin liners which refers to the extra-large liners used by some households to cover the inside of their outdoor black household bins.

The council report said "the use of these bin liners had the potential to snag on equipment and bin lifters".

In a recent survey carried out by the council, about one in 10 bins were so full that the lid would not close.

Under the new plan, householders will initially receive a warning, with an amber coloured tag placed on a bin that is overfilled.

Referred to as a "bedding-in period", it will apply between 12 May and 23 June.

After that, a red tag will be attached, meaning the bin will not be emptied by council staff.

A report by officials to the people and communities committee at City Hall set out the reasons behind the proposed new policy.

It said that spillages and falling objects from overfilled bins are a safety risk to staff, and can also damage collection vehicles.

Belfast City Council An image of messaging in amber and red describing the proposed bin policies. Belfast City Council
An example of the notice which would be left on your bin if it is not fully closed

Overfilled bins will trigger sensors

The report states that waste collection was carried out "in a pragmatic way in that if an individual bin was open slightly, the crews would be expected to collect".

"However, in effect, this was running contrary to council policy."

It added that in 2023 there was a fatality in Coventry "as a result of the operator being caught by the bin lifter and lifted into the back of the collection vehicle and crushed".

In August and September 2024, the council carried out a survey involving 6,195 bins. More than 500 bins - 9.5% of those surveyed - had a raised lid on collection day.

At Tuesday night's meeting, councillors agreed the new policy.

Although there was widespread support for the plan, a council official admitted "this isn't going to be easy".

If the policy is approved next month, an extensive publicity campaign will take place to inform ratepayers about the changes.

Ruth Brooks is photographed outside with green grass and a play park behind her. She has long brown hair tied up in a ponytail and is wearing black rimmed glasses and a black and white short sleeved shirt.
Ruth Brooks chairs the people and communities committee and said the changes are for the safety of workers

After the meeting on Tuesday night, the moves towards implementing the new policy were welcomed by the chair of the people and communities committee, Ruth Brooks.

The DUP councillor said: "We have a duty to protect our employees. While we rely on bin collections, we cannot do it at the cost of staff safety.

"Bin liners and overfilled bins are putting our operatives in danger and so we are acting now.

"All residents will have time to adjust to this new policy, but this is a sensible phased plan to protect staff and maintain collection services."

'Horrendous' proposal

A man in black-framed glasses is smiling at the camera. He has short white hair and is wearing a red and blue jacket. There is a blurred building behind him.
Joe Walsh says he recognises the importance of workers' safety but is dubious about the policy

Joe Walsh from west Belfast told BBC News NI that he thought the proposal was "horrendous".

"The bins are only collected every two weeks now anyway, so there's every chance there's going to be a little bit of rubbish peaking out of the top," he said.

"I accept the idea of keeping the binmen safe and sound absolutely, but I doubt very much that a small amount of rubbish peaking out of the top is going to cause any harm whatsoever."

Bin tips

A man in a black hat and black t-shirt is smiling at the camera. It is a sunny day and he is sitting on a bench, with green grass in the background.
Darren Henderson says with enough notice about the policy, people should be able to adapt

Darren Henderson said he would be disappointed if his bin was not collected because the lid was not closed, but he said if people were given enough notice about it, they should be able to adapt to the change.

What are the rules in other council areas?

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council said: "If a bin is overfull or the lid is open, the contents will not be emptied and a tag will be placed on the bin explaining this. We do not have plans to introduce sensor technology."

Ards and North Down Council said overfilled bins "will not be collected". It added "loose waste presented beside or on top of the bin will not be collected".

Causeway Coast and Glens Council confirmed its policy is "to collect bins with closed lids and that are not overflowing". It added: "There are no plans to adopt sensor technology."

Derry City and Strabane Council said "bins with their lids raised will not be emptied" under a policy that has been operational since 2017. The council added it is "continually looking at new technology and systems to improve its services".

Lisburn and Castlereagh Council said: "We do have a closed lid bin policy but to assist our residents we would still empty a bin which is slightly open." It said it has "no intentions of adding any additional technology to our refuse collection fleet".

Mid and East Antrim Council said: "At present, we do not have sensor technology on our vehicles." It also pointed BBC News NI to it's website which states bin lids must be closed and if a bin is too heavy it cannot be lifted.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council said: "Householders must comply with conditions including 'Lids must be fully closed' and 'No side waste will be collected' for council to provide a collection. The council does not currently have this technology, however, it could be a consideration for the future."

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council said: The council "requests that residents avoid overfilling bins as it presents a health and safety risk to our collection crews. The council has recently deployed a small number of new refuse collection vehicles with sensor technology and no issues have been raised to date."

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said: The council has "previously issued guidance to staff regarding lifting/emptying overloaded household bins (inc. lid not fully shut) and advised that these should not be emptied. Fermanagh and Omagh District Council refuse collection vehicles are not fitted with the automatic lifting mechanisms used in Belfast."

Mid Ulster District Council said: "All waste presented for collection by the Council, must be contained within an approved wheeled bin. Container lids should be closed shut. Only bins which are in a sound condition will be collected by the Council. Overfull or excessively heavy bins will not be emptied."