Windy weather – bin clips and other advice
Windy weather – bin clips and other advice
For safety reasons and to help us keep to tight collection schedules we ask that householders don't use heavy weights, ropes or bungees to keep bins lids or bins secured. Our crews won't be able to collect bins secured in this way.
You can use a weight up to 2kg, or a piece of electrical tape to keep bin lids closed.
The Council has also identified two suitable bin straps which residents can use if they need a solution for keeping the lid on their bins on windy days. They are quick and safe to unhook and have been tested by the collection crews on the bin lorries to make sure they don’t get tangled in the lifting mechanisms. They are:
- Schafer clips - these can be purchased from School Place, Kirkwall and Warehouse Building in Stromness, for £5.50
- Caithness Beach Clean bin closers - made from recycled material can be found on the online Etsy shop, StormWashed
Only one clip per bin is needed. Clips cannot be delivered by the Council. Watch our video below or read our FAQs
It’s a really windy day – should I be putting my bins out at all?
We ask folk to use their judgement in severe weather. Lighter recycling bins (plastics, cans) or half full bins might blow over in the wind. If you can keep your bins til the next collection, do so.
That said - if you hold onto your waste for so long that you cannot shut your bin lid, then it is overloaded and will not be emptied by crews. Remember, we provide Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs) for your convenience if you are running out of capacity at home. Black bag waste and recycling can be taken to Hatston, Garson or Bossack whilst recycling only can be taken to Cursiter and St Margaret’s Hope. Be neighbourly – check in on folks you know might struggle to get to a waste facility during collection disruptions and offer to help out.
