Bin capacity, lid design and placement are important considerations when selecting a garbage bin for workplace use. The right setup should reflect the amount and type of waste generated, how often bins are emptied and where they are positioned within the work area. Livingstone supplies recyclable plastic garbage bins alongside a range of bin liners and garbage bags for different workplace waste management needs.
What Makes a Garbage Bin Suitable for General Workplace Waste?
A workplace garbage bin should provide enough capacity for routine waste while remaining practical to position, handle and empty. Rather than relying on one capacity for every setting, workplaces should consider the amount of waste produced between collections, available floor space and how the bin will be moved when full.
Livingstone’s recyclable plastic garbage bin comes in a 55 litre capacity designed for general waste collection. Its lidded format helps keep waste contained, making it a practical option for workplaces that need a straightforward solution for routine rubbish disposal. Whether 55 litres is appropriate should still be assessed against the actual waste volume and collection frequency in the intended area.
What Size Garbage Bin Does a Workplace Need?
There is no single garbage bin size that suits every workplace. NSW EPA guidance for commercial and industrial facilities recommends planning waste storage around expected waste-generation rates and notes that waste volumes can vary considerably even between similar businesses. This makes actual waste output and collection frequency more useful selection factors than a fixed litre range.
A bin that regularly reaches capacity before collection may indicate a need for additional capacity, another bin or more frequent emptying. A bin that remains largely unused may be unnecessarily large for the location. The aim is to provide enough capacity to keep waste contained without taking up more workplace space than necessary.
Should Workplace Garbage Bins Have Lids?
A lid can be useful where waste needs to remain contained between collections, but lid requirements depend on the waste type and location. NSW EPA guidance states that unsealed waste can create hygiene concerns and attract vermin and recommends avoiding bins being left open for extended periods. The same guidance also notes that regular cleaning of bins and storage areas can help minimise odour problems.
For routine dry office waste, a lid may be a practical preference rather than a requirement. Areas containing food waste or rubbish that may attract pests can require greater containment and more frequent removal. Choosing a lidded or open design should therefore be based on the waste stream, collection schedule and surrounding environment rather than assuming one format is suitable everywhere.
Where Should a Workplace Garbage Bin Be Positioned?
Garbage bins should be easy to access for the people who use and empty them without creating an obstruction. NSW EPA guidance recommends locating waste storage facilities where staff, cleaners and collection providers have convenient access, while also minimising unnecessary movement of bins between storage and collection points.
WorkSafe Victoria similarly recommends providing enough waste bins near the source of waste and emptying them before rubbish ends up on the floor. In everyday work areas, bins should therefore be close enough to support convenient disposal but kept clear of doors, walkways and equipment access. Larger workplaces may need several appropriately positioned bins rather than relying on one central collection point.
Placement should also consider how cleaners will remove the waste and whether a full bin can be moved safely to the collection area. A convenient location for users should not create unnecessary lifting, carrying or movement for the staff responsible for waste collection.
How Do You Choose Between Indoor and Outdoor Garbage Bins?
Indoor garbage bins should fit the available space and allow people to move safely around the work area. Outdoor or back-of-house waste locations may need more attention to containment, pest access, cleaning and the route used to move bins for collection. NSW EPA guidance recommends that commercial waste storage areas provide convenient access, sufficient manoeuvring space and suitable arrangements for cleaning and servicing bins.
The conditions around the bin are therefore as important as its capacity. A bin used in an office staff area may have different requirements from one positioned near a loading area or external collection point. Workplaces should assess exposure, access, waste type and servicing arrangements before using the same bin specification across different locations.
What Manual Handling Factors Apply to Workplace Garbage Bins?
Moving or emptying workplace garbage bins can become a hazardous manual task where workers need to use high or sustained force, repeat the movement frequently or work in awkward positions. Safe Work Australia recommends identifying and managing these factors rather than relying on workers to handle difficult loads manually.
When choosing a bin, consider its likely weight when full, how far it needs to be moved and whether the route includes slopes, steps or restricted spaces. Where loads become difficult to manage, workplaces may need to change the bin capacity, increase collection frequency or use suitable handling equipment. These controls can reduce unnecessary lifting, pushing and pulling during routine waste removal.
How Do Bin Liners Support Workplace Waste Management?
Bin liners can help contain loose rubbish within a workplace garbage bin and make waste transfer more practical. NSW EPA guidance advises that plastic bags should be used as bin liners rather than as stand-alone containers for transporting waste. Once removed from a bin, liners should be transferred directly into an appropriate wheeled bin, trolley or other container for movement.
The liner should also match the bin dimensions and the type of waste being collected. Rather than assuming a thicker liner is always better, workplaces should check supplier specifications for size, material and intended load. Bins should not be overloaded, and waste streams with special handling requirements should follow the applicable workplace or regulatory guidance.
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