How to Choose the Right Garbage Bin for Your Needs

Environmental cleanliness is a practice that is important in our daily lives as it provides a sense of space and comfort, helping us to focus better and get things done. When we talk about keeping our surroundings clean, the first thing that comes to mind is the garbage bin. Even though it seems like a small and unimportant object, it plays a big role in keeping homes, offices and public places tidy and hygienic. Without the use of proper bins, waste would pile up, which causes bad odor and that would attract problematic pests. In this article, we’ll be sharing the different types of bins that are available on the market, the importance of materials used, the right way to choose the proper bin, and so much more.

What are garbage bins?

Garbage bins are containers used to collect unwanted items and wastes which we no longer need. They are also referred to as trash cans, rubbish bins and  waste containers too. Garbage bins are used as a temporary storage of waste before collection or disposal. We can see them in homes, offices, shopping malls, factories, warehouses and so on.

What are garbage bins used for?

Garbage bins help to contain and control waste, preventing malodor and mess. Not only do they store unwanted waste, different bins can help us categorize different types of waste, such as segregating the recyclables from the non recyclables. Through utilization of these specialized bins, wastes are segregated further into specific categories by waste materials such as plastic, aluminum and paper. This in turn helps us to carry out recycling efforts with ease.

What types of garbage bins are there?

Garbage bins can be segregated into groups through usage or waste type, operation and location.

Usage / Waste Type:

1. General Waste Bin – Is used for everyday regular trash
2. Recycling Bin – We use this for segregating trash that are mainly from the 3 recyclable categories, bottles, paper and plastic.
3. Organic / food waste – This type of bin is used to store wastes from kitchens, or green waste.
4. Medical / hazardous bins – Usually seen in hospitals or factories for waste that are responsible for containment of dangerous wastes, usually color coded in yellow

Operation:

1. Pedal-operated – The lid of the bin is able to be opened through applying pressure on foot pedal using our feet, ensuring a hands-free and hygienic way to throw the trash
2. Swing lid – The bin has an opening that mimics that of a swing, it is a simple and affordable bin used by many, usually at home or offices.
3. Open-top – This type of bin provides a quick and easy access for the user to dispose waste, but may attract pests as it does not have a lid
4. Sensor-based – With advancement in tech, innovation has made its way to garbage bins with the use of sensors to provide a pleasant way to open the bin without physically having to touch it, smart and modern

Location:

1. Indoor – Typically comes in a compact and stylish design, not only blending in and enhancing modern interiors as a decoration piece, but also adding functionality as a waste container
2. Outdoor – Made of durable materials to be able to stand in the numerous weather conditions
3. Industrial – These bins are large in capacity to store larger than normal amounts of waste for industrial usages, therefor heavy duty in nature

What are garbage bins made of?

1. Plastic – Plastic is a cost effective material that is generally cheaper to manufacture and mold as compared to other materials in the industry, making it the economical choice for both manufacturers and consumers. The lightweight material nature allows users ease of handling, move and transport. Plastic is also a corrosion resistant material, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor environments, resistant to weathers.
2. Metal – Garbage bins made of metal are great at resisting fire, and they do not ignite easily. They are ideal for environments where flammable waste is present. Metal offers a professional and premium aesthetic, suitable to be used in modern sleek settings such as office buildings, hotels and malls. They are also great at resisting pests and rodents as they are not chewable, unlike plastic.
3. Composite or recycled materials – These garbage bins are friendly to the environment as they are made of recycled plastic or hybrid materials, a mixture of organic and inorganic materials. This type of bin is suitable for those who are environmentally conscious. They are undoubtedly durable too despite the use of recycled and hybrid materials.

How to choose the right garbage bin?

In order for you to choose the right garbage bin, there are a few factors for us to go about this.

1. Objective: What is the objective of getting a garbage bin?
2. Capacity: What is the amount of garbage you need the garbage bin to contain?
3. Location / Placement: Is the garbage bin going to be placed indoors or outdoors?
4. Budget: A budget helps in shortlisting a selection of garbage bins that will suit your use.
5. Appearance: This is exceptionally important if you plan to have it in a presentable setting such as an office or hotel lobby.

What do the different coloured bins mean?

We utilize color coding for better separation of waste when discarding them into the bin. Colour coding is typically used for recycling bins, typically in Blue, Orange and Brown colour. White these colours are common, there are also other colours such as Red and Yellow, besides the normal Green colour. Colour coding is generally done for plastic bins, we do not see them for bins made of other materials such as stainless steel or metal. For these types of bins we use stickers with proper logos with the indicators on them.

1. Green: Bins with this colour are responsible for the collection of organic or food waste.
2. Blue: This colour indicates that the bin is for collection of waste that are of paper materials
3. Brown: Brown coloured bins are typically meant for glass wastes.
4. Orange: Orange recycle bins are reserved for plastic and metal wastes, an empty water bottle would be a fit for this category as an example.
5. Yellow: Yellow coloured bins are used to collect clinical waste or hazardous materials, found in clinics and factories.

How big are garbage bins?

Garbage bins come in small and big sizes. They typically come in 120L, 240L, 360L, 660L and 1100L. It depends on the definition of the word big to you. The largest available bin in the market in Malaysia is 1100 Liters. 

To sum it up, garbage bins may seem like a small detail, but they play a big role in keeping our environment clean, safe and organized. Choosing the right bins is not an easy feat, but we hope that the above information will be helpful in making the process swift for you. Whether it’s for your home, office or business, they play a vital role in keeping environments safe and presentable.