The best wheelie bin locks for security and protection

by Craig Pryce October 29, 2025

Wheelie bin locks are a useful way to protect your bins against theft, malicious damage and unwanted neighbours' excess rubbish.

From the inconvenience of a rejected bin collection due to other people dumping the wrong kind of recycling into your bin, to the financial cost of replacing a stolen bin, wheelie bin locks are an economical way to protect your home or business.

Let's look at some of the options available to secure your wheelie bin lid or chain your bin to the wall, so you can decide which is best suited to your household or commercial premises.

Why do you need a wheelie bin lock?

A lockable wheelie bin protects against several different types of malicious act, for example:

Unwanted waste/wrong recycling dumped by neighbours and passers-by
Bin fires/arson attacks when putting paper waste out for collection
Identity theft due to paperwork stolen from recycling bin
Rubbish strewn around by foraging wildlife/hygiene concerns from rats
Bin theft, by making access more difficult for thieves

A wheelie bin latch can also help to keep the lid closed during extreme weather, helping your bin to survive winter storms without suffering a cracked lid or broken hinge.

Types of wheelie bin locks available

The best way to lock a wheelie bin depends on what you're trying to achieve. Do you want to lock your bin in place, secure the lid between collections, or keep it locked when kerbside?

Padlocks for wheelie bins

A wheelie bin padlock is quite easy to install and can be retrofitted to existing bins. Our solution is a Forest Lock, which is bolted to the inside of your bin, and protrudes through a small hole in the lid.

Use your own preferred padlock or combination lock to secure the lid in seconds. On collection day, remove the padlock or give the combination to your waste collectors, to make sure they can empty your bin's contents.

Gravity locks and latches

An even more convenient solution are gravity locks for wheelie bins, which engage when the bin is upright but release when it is tipped fully upside down using the bin lorry's lifting mechanism. The lock can be opened using a key when the bin is upright - so you're always able to access the bin yourself.

An added benefit is that (if the lock is engaged) the bin automatically locks again once it's emptied, so there's no risk of finding your bin full of someone else's rubbish by the time you go to bring it back in.

DIY lock solutions

A DIY wheelie bin lock can be tempting, and there are options - e.g. drilling small holes in the upper body and lid of the bin and adding a padlock hasp using coach bolts.

Be careful if using homemade wheelie bin locks, as you don't want to weaken the structure of your bin or crack the sides/lid. You also need to make sure that the council will still empty your bin if you've modified it in some way.

How to choose the right lock for your bin

Professionally made wheelie bin security solutions are generally the way to go. From innovative designs like a forest lock or gravity lock, to purpose-made padlock hasps, you get peace of mind of knowing that the product is being used for its intended purpose.

Lock for wheelie bin lid

Do you want to lock your bin between collection days on your own property, when it's out kerbside for collection, or both? Do you want to need a key or combination to open it?

Gravity locks, padlocked forest locks, and combination locks give you different options. If in doubt, speak to your local council or waste collection provider and check that they will still empty your bins, if you've fitted them with a certain type of lock.

Secure wheelie bin to wall

Chaining a wheelie bin to a wall is one way to prevent the whole bin from being stolen. A sturdy wall anchor and strong padlocked chain, or a tough bike lock, are some of the options here.

You can also get purpose-made wheelie bin wall locks, which secure the bin to the wall by its handles. While it's hard to make theft completely impossible, all these solutions act as effective deterrents and will usually make would-be thieves target someone else instead.

How to install a wheelie bin lock

Wheelie bin locks are usually easy to install. In most cases, they're mechanical solutions that just need screwing into place, with perhaps a small amount of drilling to create holes for padlocks or for your forest lock to poke through.

Follow the instructions provided with your wheelie bin lock and your bin should be secure in a matter of minutes. Some wall locks don't require you to do anything at all to your bin, but just act as an anchor point so you can chain the bin by its handle or axle.

Preventing wheelie bin theft beyond locks

Physical locks are a fairly foolproof way to secure a wheelie bin in place, or to lock a wheelie bin lid closed between uses. There are a few other options though.

Lid apertures offer a simple layer of security for recycling bins. A bottle aperture restricts the size of items that can be put into the bin. A paper slot helps to make sure that only documents can be inserted - and that confidential paperwork cannot be removed.

These are especially common on commercial wheelie bins, but may also be possible for your domestic recycling bins, if your local council is OK with it.

You could also go high-tech. Battery-powered GPS tags last for months (and are sometimes rechargeable). There are several places where you could hide one on your wheelie bin, allowing you to track its location using a smartphone app or website.

Secure your bins with quality locks from Wheelie Bin Solutions

In general, a mechanical wheelie bin lock is usually enough to deter would-be thieves and nuisance neighbours from interfering with your household waste, and to protect commercial waste from prying eyes and potential arsonists.

Our range includes triangular key manual locks, retrofit wheelie bin locks and padlockable forest locks - all made from strong, high-quality materials to maximise the security of your bin when in use.

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.