How to get it right: Wheelie bins and the building regulations

Whether they're for waste, recyclables, gardens or glass, the rise of the wheelie bin is causing issues of its own. More space to store the wheelie bins is needed but did you know that the requirements are contained in the Building Regs?

You could be excused for thinking that Building Regulations Part H and its Approved Document was just about drainage, but it also covers solid waste storage.

H6         (1) Adequate provision shall be made for storage of solid waste.

             (2) Adequate means of access shall be provided:

                      (a) For people in the building to the place of storage; and

                      (b) From the place of storage to a collection point (where one has been specified by the waste collection authority) or to a street (where no collection point has been specified).

Within the Approved Document you can find guidance on how this could be achieved. For low rise developments (houses, bungalows and flats up to four floors) you need to provide:

Space for the storage of containers for separated waste with a combined capacity of 0.25m³ per dwelling. (This might change following consultation with the waste collection authority when collections are less frequent than once per week). A wheelie bin measuring 500mm x 500mm x 1m high would give 0.25m3.

Any dwelling should have access to a location where at least two movable individual or communal waste containers can be stored.

An area of 1.2m x 1.2m for each dwelling for storage of waste containers and where separate storage areas are provided.

Where communal storage areas are provided, space requirements should be determined in consultation with the waste collection authority.

Householders shouldn’t need to carry refuse more than 30m to storage areas and these should be within 25m of any waste collection point specified by the waste collection authority.

The location of waste containers should be sited so that they don’t have to be taken through a building to be emptied, unless it's a porch, garage, car port or other open covered space.  This applies only to new buildings except that extensions or conversions shouldn't remove such a facility where one already exists.

External storage areas for waste containers should be away from windows and ventilators and preferably be in shade or under shelter. Storage areas should not interfere with pedestrian or vehicle access to buildings.

The last point is probably the most contentious as it relies solely on the consideration of those moving the bins to an emptying point and taking them back to their storage space afterwards.

Careful design in line with the guidance in Approved Doc H can minimise these issues.

Please Note: Every care was taken to ensure the information was correct at the time of publication. Any written guidance provided does not replace the user’s professional judgement. It is the responsibility of the dutyholder or person carrying out the work to ensure compliance with relevant building regulations or applicable technical standards.