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
What can I do to help keep my bin lid closed in windy weather?
You can place a small stone or weight on top of your bin – up to 2kg/4lb (so, a house brick, not a breeze block!). You can also place your bins against shelter (wall, fence, or together with neighbours’ bins). Or you can purchase one of two clips we have trialled and are safe for use with our lorries and crews:
- Schafer bin clips are preferred by our crews – they are very quick to release, which helps us keep to schedule, and are made to fit all sizes of bins. Schafer clips can be bought in person only, at cost price, from the Council’s customer services in School Place, Kirkwall or Warehouse Buildings, Stromness.
- We’ve also previously approved ‘Caithness Beach Clean’ clips for use by households to help keep their bin lids closed. This uses a cord that runs between the two handles of the bin, with a reclaimed creel hook attached which simply hooks under the rim of the bin. If folks have these, they can continue to use them. We would ask though that folks don’t attempt to replicate the Caithness clip – the fit is very important. Loose, ill-fitting clips can become caught in the lorry mechanism which usually ends in a lorry being taken off the route and the rest of the collection abandoned. Tight cords and clips slow crews down and pose a risk of injury. The Council does not stock Caithness Beach Clean clips – you’ll find them on Etsy at their ‘Stormwashed’ shop.
Please don’t use bungee cords – they are an injury risk for crews and an entanglement risk for our lorries.
