What to do if your wheelie bin is stolen

by Craig Pryce May 29, 2020

There’s something very irritating about the theft of a wheelie bin; perhaps it’s the inconvenience of the situation or the fact someone has taken something off your property. More realistically, it’s a combination of the two.

Whether it was a council-provided bin, a housing association bin, a commercial bin, or a bin you’d bought yourself — one thing is for sure: you’ll need a replacement as soon as possible.

In this article, we’ll explain who to tell about the theft, how to go about replacing your stolen recycling bin, and how to best avoid similar future incidents.

Report the theft

You’ll need to report the theft to different people, depending on who supplied the waste container.

If you have checked the area and are sure that your bin has been stolen, rather than blown down the street or mistakenly taken in by a neighbour on collection day, then the theft needs to be reported.

Tell the police

If you own the general waste bin, then the theft needs to be reported to the police. You can do this by calling 101 or, if you head to the website of your local police force, you’ll be able to submit the incident via an online form instead.

Bear in mind that the police don’t have the resources available to look into every small theft though; the chances are you won’t get your waste container returned to you, but it’s still important that the police are aware of all thefts in the area.

Tell the council

If your garden bin is provided by your local council, a housing association, or a waste management company, then you’ll need to get in touch with them and report it missing.

If the container was provided by the council, check on their website for full details; there’s usually an online form to submit your request.

Some councils will charge for a replacement bin, and some won’t. However, delivery times can vary wildly depending on current demand, so be prepared to wait a while for your replacement.

Replace your bin

wheelie bins in back garden

If a wheelie bin you personally own gets stolen, then you’ll, unfortunately, need to order a new one.

However, you can find the perfect replacement in our online wheelie bin shop — whatever size or colour you require, and always with free delivery!

Your new recycling bin will always be delivered quickly and efficiently.

Prevent future bin thefts

In order to lessen the chances of your outdoor wheelie bins being stolen in the future, there are a few changes you can make to your usual bin routine.

Firstly, we’d recommend bringing your bins back to the house as soon as possible after they’ve been emptied. This removes them from view and temptation.

Secondly, we recommend storing your wheelie bin out of the sight of passers-by — around the back of your house is usually best, if possible.

Ideally, you could store your bins in a locked bin store; nobody will go the effort of breaking into your bin store to steal your bins when they could just take someone else’s instead.

An additional idea is to personalise your bins, making them highly recognisable and less appealing for a thief who will want a bin that blends in amongst others.

Want more wheelie bin-related tips? You might enjoy our article entitled How to ensure your wheelie bins are emptied on collection day.

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.