Bin collection and storage facilities – a guide for property developers

This page sets out property developers’ guidelines to providing adequate waste management facilities for residents. We refer to property developers as anyone or any company that makes money by building houses or renovating existing properties for sale.

It is important that suitable waste management facilities are provided for domestic waste in order to minimise environmental health risks. Design of such facilities must take into account storage space, accessibility for residents and collection operatives, and health and safety for all parties.

It is the responsibility of the developer to purchase a 140L refuse bin, a 240L recycling bin and a 23L + 5L food waste caddy pack. These must be purchased from Portsmouth City Council. To purchase the containers, please contact us on (023) 92841105 or at recyclingandrubbish@portsmouthcc.gov.uk Containers should be ordered and paid for eight weeks prior to occupation.

Residents should not have to wheel their bins a distance greater than 30m from the container storage area to their waste collection point (usually their front boundary) and a safe and practical means of egress must be provided. Container storage areas should be clearly identified on plans submitted with planning applications.

• 140L bin dimensions: 1.1m x 0.5m x 0.6m
• 240L bin dimensions: 1.1m x 0.6m x 0.8m
• 23L food caddy dimensions: 4m x 0.33m x 0.35m

Collection crew members are not expected (by law) to move wheeled bins a distance greater than 25m nor over surfaces which hinder their smooth passage, for example, steps, gravel, slopes where the gradient is greater than 1:12 and uneven surfaces. The collection point should be accessible to the size of collection vehicles that are used by Portsmouth City Council.

For houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) and flats, it will be necessary to provide communal bin storage area(s). For large developments, several bin storage areas may be appropriate. Communal bin storage areas must be designed as an integral part of the development and must be easily accessible for the dwellings that they serve.

The applicant or developer is advised that the following criteria will likely need to be met in order to secure bin servicing by the council or their agents:

1. Construction – Bin storage areas shall be constructed of masonry, have a suitable weatherproof roof and be ventilated.
2. Distance – Bin storage areas should be located no more than 25 metres away from where waste collection vehicles can safely and legally park up in order to facilitate collection.
3. Opening size – All bin store doors are to be of sturdy construction and hinged to open outwards, with a minimum opening of 1.4m wide.
4. Bump boards and Sheffield Hoops – Areas of doors and walls likely to be impacted by bins should be lined with suitably robust materials to avoid damage to the structure and any pipework/electrics etc.
5. Locks – Any lock systems provided should comply with PCC’s standard lock requirements and be operated by a combination, key pad system.
6. Lighting – Internal lighting should be provided that operates when bin store doors are open.
7. Wash down – To allow washing out of bin stores, suitably located taps (above bin height to avoid risk of damage) and associated gullies should be provided, with appropriate falls to the floor.
8. Pathways – All access paths to bin stores shall be constructed to ensure complete avoidance of any steps or access being blocked in any way and built to footpath standards, with a minimum width of 1.5m.
9. Surface – The actual surface of any bin access route or pathway should always be level (i.e. cobbled, rippled or uneven surfaces would be unacceptable).
10. Gradient – The gradient of bin store access pathways shall not exceed 1:12, unless suitable anti-slip surfacing is used, and still shall not exceed 1:10.
11. Gate access – Any gates on access pathways are not to be lockable, unless they comply with PCC’s standard combination, key pad, and lock requirements.
12. Dropped kerb – Where applicable, single dropped kerbs to the adjacent highway should be provided to allow all Euro bins safe access to and from waste collection vehicles.
13. Bin store size – The overall size of all bin stores to be agreed in advance of construction with PCC, in order to allow a suitable amount of appropriate waste storage for all residents.
14. Bins – It is the responsibility of the developer to provide bins for the storage of refuse and recyclable materials prior to the development being occupied.
15. Bin compliance – Bins should comply with BS EN840, be embossed with Portsmouth City Council’s logo and be appropriately colour coded for normal, recycling and green waste. They can be purchased by calling 023 9284 1105 or email to recyclingandrubbish@portsmouthcc.gov.uk and should be ordered and paid for eight weeks prior to occupation. If bins are supplied by others, proof of test certification will be required and should still be embossed with Portsmouth City Council’s logo.

Bin capacity guidelines for HMOs and blocks of flats:

Please contact our waste management team 023 9284 1105 or recyclingandrubbish@portsmouthcc.gov.uk) to discuss your capacity needs as these differ from the ones for individual houses.