Belfast City Council is set to introduce a new overfilled bin policy that will see household waste bins with raised lids left uncollected. The zero-tolerance initiative, aimed at improving safety for bin collection workers, is expected to be enforced citywide by the end of June.
Red Tags for Overfilled Bins as Council Cracks Down on Waste Hazards
Under the new policy, any household bin that cannot be closed properly will be tagged and refused collection. Bins with slightly raised lids will initially receive a warning amber tag between 12 May and 23 June. After this period, a red tag will mean the bin will not be emptied at all.
The plan, approved by a City Hall committee on Tuesday, is likely to be fully ratified by the council in early May. To support enforcement, new sensors are being fitted to bin lorries. These will detect if a bin lid is open and automatically disable the lifting mechanism.
Health and Safety the Driving Force Behind the Policy
Council officials cited serious health and safety risks, including a fatal incident in Coventry in 2023, where a collection operator was tragically killed. Overfilled bins can cause spillages, falling items, and damage to vehicles, posing significant danger to workers.
A recent council survey found that nearly 10% of bins—over 500 out of 6,195 surveyed—had raised lids on collection day. The use of oversized bin liners, which may snag on collection equipment, will also be banned under the new rules.
Public Awareness Campaign to Launch Before Enforcement
The council plans a comprehensive public awareness campaign ahead of the full implementation to educate residents on the new collection guidelines. Councillor Ruth Brooks, Chair of the People and Communities Committee, welcomed the move, emphasizing the duty to protect staff.
“We have a duty to protect our employees,” she said. “While we rely on bin collections, we cannot do it at the cost of staff safety. All residents will have time to adjust to this new policy, but this is a sensible phased plan to protect staff and maintain collection services.”