Unfortunately, plastic bins do come with a serious risk of fire, particularly when used in a commercial or publicly accessible setting. That’s why we highly recommend using metal bins in these settings. A new report from Storm highlights the risk of using plastic bins in these environments. As many as 30,000 bin fires are recorded each year in the UK, and the number is rising, with incidents up 12% in the past two years. Plastic bins are a prime target for arsonists as they are made of polyethylene, which is highly flammable and can burn at 1000°C.

Highly toxic smoke given off when plastic bins are set alight can be dangerous to health when inhaled and can even be fatal.

West Midlands Fire Service Group Commander Ben Diamond said of the matter:

“The burning plastic of a wheelie bin produces a lethal cocktail of gases in the smoke and burns very fiercely, posing a serious risk of the fire spreading.”

Many building regulations are forced to accommodate for this risk, stating that plastic bins must be kept either a certain distance from the building or enclosed in a fire-resistant casing – usually a lockable steel container. For apartment buildings, bins must not be stored within six metres of a dwelling, and when this is not possible, they must be stored in a structure giving at least 30 minutes of fire resistance. Insurance companies may also insist on non-combustible bins with lockable lids. These regulations are not needed when steel bins are in place, as they are non-flammable and have an extremely high melting point that can’t be reached in a common bin fire.

Some Fire & Rescue services advise that commercial waste is stored in non-combustible material, meaning they advise against plastic bins.

Stuart Garner, Premises Risk and Protection Manager for Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, said:

“It is important that businesses understand how dangerous it can be to keep plastic wheel bins too close to buildings. The rubbish in them can often be easily ignited and it can burn very quickly. I would urge all business operators to look closely at how they both store and dispose of waste to prevent fires spreading.”

Steel bins have the advantage of not adding to the fire because of the steel structure and if the steel lid is kept shut, any fire will be extinguished through starvation of oxygen.