How to replace the wheels on a wheelie bin

by Craig Pryce August 14, 2020

Wheelie bins are used for storing rubbish and recycling, and the wheels of these bins are crucial for moving your bin into the appropriate place to get your rubbish collected by the local council or a waste management company.

Replacing the wheels on your bin can be quite a technical task, and methods for this aren’t well known. So, keep reading to find out how you can replace the wheels on your wheelie bin.

Why do I need to replace wheelie bin wheels?

There are a plethora of reasons why you may need to replace your wheelie bin wheels. Whether your bin wheels are old, damaged, or not appropriately aligned; this doesn’t mean you have to dispose of the entire bin.

Not only is it kinder to the environment to repair a wheelie bin rather than throw it away, but it will also save you a lot of hassle and money.

Wheelie bin wheels in a pile.

How do you remove the wheels from a wheelie bin?

When removing wheelie bin wheels from a waste container, it is important to take it slow as you will be using some sharp tools.

It is vital to remove the wheels safely and correctly. To facilitate this, we would recommend turning the wheelie bin onto its side so you can have a flat working area.

Next, follow the below steps.

Expose the spring

Firstly, you need to expose the spring-loaded steel pin inside the wheel. To do this, you need to cut a small hole in the wheel, towards the centre.

To cut a small hole, you can use a sharp craft knife or a screwdriver. If using a screwdriver, the best method is to hit the top of the tool with a hammer carefully — this will create the required force for the creation of a small hole.

Don’t worry if the pin isn’t visible right away; you will be able to find it after you have created the hole and had a poke around with your screwdriver.

Move the spring

Once you have located the spring-loaded steel pin, use a screwdriver to slide or ‘’wedge’’ the spring towards the tyre of the wheel.

Be careful when doing this step to not trap your fingers in the hole you have created, as there may be sharp edges.

Remove the wheel

Once disengaged with the pin, remove the wheel from the axle. For those who don’t know, the axle is the long bar of metal between the wheels, providing portable support to move the bin around.

If you have successfully located and slid the spring towards the tyre, the wheel should simply pull off with no trouble.

You may find that the wheel isn’t coming off – in which case, all you need to do is check with your screwdriver that the spring-loaded pin is fully disengaged.

Is it easy to put new wheels on the wheelie bin?

So, now you’ve removed your old wheels, you may be wanting to add new wheels to the bin! This is a straightforward and simple task.

Once you have removed both wheels, it is easy to see the axle of the wheelie bin. Add each new wheel to the appropriate side of the axle and push with a little force until you hear an audible click.

When you have heard the click, your wheels are secure, and the bin is ready to move around!

If your wheelie bin or waste bin with wheels is beyond repair, then get in touch with Wheelie Bin Solutions, today.

Craig Pryce

With over 17 years of experience in the waste and recycling industry, Craig is passionate about making recycling easier and reducing the negative impact of litter. He has been the managing director of Wheelie Bin Solutions (WBS) since January 2016, and prides the company on his expert knowledge, top-quality products, and customer service. His proudest moment was when WBS supported the 2012 Olympic Games, working in partnership with Contenur UK to supply over 9000 bin containers to all Olympic venues. Craig is always keen to share his knowledge, so whether you need advice about the benefits of a wheelie bin lock, or ideas for alternative uses for your wheelie bin, Craig will ensure your recycling and waste disposal habits are gold medal worthy.