Council offers residents $10 solution to common wheelie bin problem

Yahoo

3 days ago

Overflowing bins with rubbish spilling onto the street is an unsightly issue that all Aussies try to avoid.
Wild weather, pests like cheeky cockatoos, ibis, and even invasive predators like foxes and cats are known causes of wheelie bin lids being flung open, leaving rubbish scattered across front gardens and busy roads, or allowing unwanted insects to get in.
Residents have previously taken action to prevent the unsightly scene played out across the country, with bricks, water bottles and even cable ties used to keep the bin lids down. But now, one rural council has offered a simple and safe solution to locals.
South Australia's Lower Eyre Council recently announced it is offering residents bin lid clips, which can be purchased from council for $10. CEO Delfina Lanzilli told Yahoo News council has been "searching for a solution" to the common issue, with internal trials yielding positive results.
"The benefit of the clips is that the bin lid will always remain closed, so after emptying, there is also no risk of the bin being filled up by rain during the winter months," she said.
"Stock has recently arrived this week, promotion of the clips is in its first week and council is hopeful residents will see the benefit in the purchase of these clips for their bins.
"To date, the initiative has been popular among the community."
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How do the bin clips work?
The device, called a Lidstop, is an attachment that prevents the bin lid from flipping backward.
It's designed to clip securely to the handle of the wheelie bin, and through controlled resistance, holds the lid in place.
One of the benefits, the council says, is automatic closure after the truck empties the bin and sets it back on the ground.
"No more filling with rainwater," it said. "It's a set-and-forget product that never needs to be removed, except for easy unclipping when it's time to clean the bin."
While some residents thought it was a clever idea, others argued the device should be offered free of charge.
Other solutions to wheelie bin issue
Councils across the country are looking for solutions to this ongoing issue, and while some have embraced the clips, others have tried different solutions.
In Sydney's southwest, Campbelltown council is utilising a simple strap that clamps to the bin's body. Residents say they have been successful at keeping rubbish in and pests out.
In Victoria, the City of Monash council also offered the same devices as a trial.
"Monash Council has been trialling bin latches on two residential streets to help prevent waste from escaping," a statement said in June.
"Residents on both streets have been surveyed about the trial, with most people finding the devices easy to use and resulting in reduced litter on their streets and in our drains and waterways."
City of Onkaparinga Council, which looks after suburbs in Adelaide's south, previously warned against using items like heavy bricks, which can cause damage to bins, garbage trucks and other people too.
"Our waste and recycling team often sees residents using items such as bricks, rocks or other heavy items to keep bin lids closed when the bins are placed on the kerb for collection, particularly during windier weather. Other residents have identified birds getting into their bins and scattering rubbish as a reason for placing or affixing items on top of their bins," a council spokesperson previously told Yahoo News Australia.
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