Wheelie bin replacement: when repair isn't worth it

by Craig Pryce October 29, 2025

A broken wheelie bin can be a real headache. Cracked lids and split bins, twisted wheels and snapped handles, all make your trusty wheelie bin a nightmare to handle - and might mean the council refuse to empty it.

While DIY wheelie bin repairs can be a tempting option, they're usually a sticking plaster over a problem that won't go away in the long run. Economical wheelie bin replacement can be the best option in many cases.

In this guide, we'll look at the case for wheelie bin replacement vs wheelie bin repair, as well as how to order wheelie bins if yours are damaged or broken. You can find out more in our Beginner's Guide to Replacement Council Bins.

When your wheelie bin is beyond repair

Slight surface damage like scratches can sometimes be filled or ignored. Broken wheels can sometimes be replaced. Damage to the body of your wheelie bin is usually the end of its usable life.

If the body of your bin is visibly distorted, split, or there's clear damage to the lid or handles, it's probably time for a new wheelie bin. It's very hard to repair these types of physical damage, making a new bin the economical option in most cases.

Why most wheelie bin repairs don't last

Wheelie bins are made of materials like HDPE (high-density polyethylene) and polypropylene which are hard-wearing and resistant to chemicals, dirt and stains - that's why it's easy to clean a wheelie bin with simple soap and water.

For the same reason, it's difficult to repair split bins with glue, epoxy or stick-on patches, because the plastic does not adhere to external substances. If you've ever tried to spray-paint a wheelie bin to change its colour, you may have also found that paint does not stick well to the surface.

This means that most wheelie bin repairs will fail quite quickly. Some councils will try to patch up your bin rather than supply a new one, leaving you in a cycle of reporting the same broken bin repeatedly.

Simple fixes you can attempt yourself

The best DIY wheelie bin repairs are often a case of replacing specific parts. For instance, you can usually replace the wheels (and even the axle) if the body of the bin is in good shape.

Choose some good-quality wheelie bin wheels of the right size and swap them with your old, worn or broken wheels. Some castors pop right off, while others may be screwed on, but this is usually a fix that takes just a few minutes.

You can sometimes install a replacement wheelie bin lid, if it's only the lid of your bin that's cracked. We'll go into more detail about this below.

Getting a replacement wheelie bin

You can order wheelie bins online from suppliers like Wheelie Bin Solutions or from your local council. Remember that if you get your bin from the council, you usually do not 'own' it, even if you pay a fee.

EN840 compliant wheelie bins from private suppliers like Wheelie Bin Solutions will still be emptied by the council as normal, but they belong to you - so you can take them with you if you move house.

Replacing your wheelie bin lid

A broken wheelie bin lid is one of the most common types of bin damage. The lid is one of the most exposed parts and can be cracked during rough handling by council workers or due to machinery malfunction when the bin is emptied.

Finding the right replacement lid

You can order new wheelie bin lids online. Make sure you get the right size and colour - the council may refuse to empty your bin if, for example, you have a blue lid on a green recycling bin.

Professional lid fitting vs DIY

DIY wheelie bin lid repairs range from straightforward to almost impossible, depending on where the damage is located. Any damage to the hinge is usually not economical to try to repair.

Your local authority may offer a professional lid fitting service, particularly if your lid was damaged by council workers on bin day. If there is a fee for this, plus a cost for the replacement lid itself, it can very quickly become more economical to buy a replacement wheelie bin instead.

Cost reality: repair vs replacement

Here are some average costs for wheelie bin repairs and replacements. Remember that cheap wheelie bin repairs are not always as economical as they seem - you want a safe, good-quality solution that will last through plenty of future bin days.

Domestic wheelie bin replacement

	Wheels	Lid	Bin (council)	Bin (private)
Cost	£6.50 each	£15.00 each	£36.00 fee	£40.00 + P&P
Time taken	Minutes	Minutes	Weeks	3-5 days
Do you own it?	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Is it safe?	4/5	3/5	4/5	5/5
Durability	5/5	3/5	4/5	5/5

In this table, we've taken into account the likely durability of DIY wheelie bin repairs. Lids are always one of the most common parts to break, and a repaired lid is very likely to break again in the near future. DIY replacement wheels can sometimes be less secure too.

Always remember that in most cases, you do not own a council-supplied wheelie bin, even if you paid a fee for it. At the time of writing, our local authority (Knowsley Council in Liverpool) is charging £36 for a new general waste wheelie bin with a waiting list of six weeks for delivery.

Buy a private wheelie bin and you can have it in 3-5 days and own it outright - and you can be sure that you will receive a brand-new bin, not a pre-owned, reconditioned or previously repaired second-hand wheelie bin.

Commercial wheelie bin replacement

	Wheels	Lid	Bin (1100L)
Cost	£69.00 set	£110 each	£160.00 + P&P
Time taken	Minutes	Minutes	3-5 days
Do you own it?	Yes	Yes	Yes
Is it safe?	5/5	4/5	5/5
Durability	5/5	4/5	5/5

Commercial wheelie bins are built to carry larger quantities of waste (660-1280L) and as such, they feature heavy-duty parts like metal wheels and optional steel-body construction.

This means that a replacement industrial wheelie bin typically offers some of the best safety and durability for the price, whether you go for steel or a cheaper plastic commercial bin. We offer a 12-month warranty against manufacturing defects, to give you peace of mind.

Get long-lasting replacement wheelie bins from Wheelie Bin Solutions

Place your wheelie bin order today and we can ship to most UK addresses in 3-5 working days. We welcome domestic household customers, commercial business clients and bulk orders from local authorities and waste management contractors.

If you’d like to enquire about specific accessories such as locking bins, recycling apertures, branding/logo and other customisation, please get in touch and we'll be happy to provide you with a wholesale quote.

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.