Beware of cheap imitations. There are operators around
who have not invested in proper equipment & are using nothing more than a
pressure washer & harmful chemicals some just power wash the inside and out
the side.
Your bin will take up to 2.5 - 3.5 min to
clean it must be brushed and wipe inside and out tto kill fly eggs and all other infections which
is in all bins.
If your cleaner has got a HOT wash your bin
will be ok with a hot wash but will still need
brushed and wipe inside and out.
They have no effluent recovery systems in place & all
their waste water goes straight down the street drain which goes straight into
our rivers & streams.
They may well be contravening the Environmental
Protection Act & we would encourage anyone who see this kind of activity to
contact the
Environment Agency
or the local water authority.
WRC will never use these harmful practices and will not release harmful
bacteria into the environment.
It has become a very serious problem as the
general public is inadvertently polluting our water resource systems which
spread disease.
Wheelie Bin Cleaning And The Environment
PREVENTING
POLLUTION FROM WHEELIE BIN CLEANING
The
Environment Agency has drawn up the following guidelines to assist cleaning
operators and the general public in the safe, environmentally friendly,
hygienic method of carrying out the cleaning of wheelie bins.
1. INTRODUCTION
Wheelie bins are a relatively new method of assisting in the recycling of
waste. Most households will have two bins, one for recycling and one for
general domestic material, which may include kitchen waste that has not been
used for composting in your garden. Unfortunately, these general waste bins
can give rise to offensive odours, fly nuisance
and general hygiene problems. In an attempt to reduce this,
companies have been set up offering a Wheelie bin cleaning service. If this is
not undertaken professionally with the appropriate precautions, the
contaminated wash water produced by the cleaning technique can cause pollution
to the environment.
2. Legal Framework
The Agency is responsible for both the protection of controlled waters from
pollution under the Water Resources Act 1991 in and and the prevention of
pollution of the environment, harm to human health and detriment to local
amenity by waste management activities under the Environmental Protection Act
1990. WalesEngland
It is an offence to cause pollution of controlled waters
either deliberately or accidentally. Controlled waters include all
watercourses and water contained in underground strata (or groundwater). In
addition, the formal consent of the Agency is required for many discharges to
controlled waters. Consents are granted subject to conditions and are not
issued automatically.
All discharges to the foul sewer require authorization by the appropriate
sewerage undertaker and may be subject to the terms and conditions of a trade
effluent consent.
3. Good Practice
Following the guidance in this section, operators should avoid causing water
pollution.
3.1 Prior to cleaning, empty any residual waste from the bin into a suitable
bag
which should then be sealed.
3.2 Use the minimum quantity of water in cleaning.
3.3 By filtering the water used in the process for re-use, 250 litres can
clean up to
250 bins.
3.4 Minimize the amount of detergent or disinfectant used. Bio-degradable
products are best.
3.5 Ensure that no waste water passes into any drainage system.
3.6 All contaminated material, such as wipes, should be bagged and placed into
the bin.
3.7 Return all bagged material back into the bin.
3.8 Leave the cleaning location clean, tidy and litter free.
3.9 Use a purpose made/customized cleaning vehicle.
3.10 Dispose of all contaminated water at a licensed waste water disposal site
(your local water company will advise of
nearest location, a license is required
and a charge may be made).
3.11 Store detergent and disinfectant safely, prevent spillage, only carry
enough for
a days work.
3.12 Store your wheelie bin out of direct sunlight, it may help reduce the
cleaning
requirement.
4. Actions To Avoid Do not:
4.1. Dump waste at the road side or leave any litter.
4.2 Allow waste water to flow into road drains.
4.3 Allow detergent or disinfectant to contaminate the working area.
4.4 Take water from fire hydrants.
4.5 Pressure wash the ground area using chemicals.
4.6 Dispose of contaminated water into nearest road gully.
5. Vehicle Based Cleaners
Customized vehicles are available for wheelie bin cleaning. These carry a
supply of water and collect the wash water for re-cycling and final disposal
to foul sewer at an approved site. The use of such vehicles should prevent the
problem of water disposal on site.
(Our company has invested in such
environmentally friendly equipment as described above)
6. Drainage Systems
Whatever method you use for wheelie bin cleaning, you must not cause pollution
of a watercourse. Most road gullies and drains are designed to carry surface
water directly to the nearest river or stream, so any contaminated water
discharged into them will cause pollution, which is an offence, with a maximum
fine of £20,000 in a magistrates court.
7. Contacting The Environment Agency
It is always best to get it right in the first place, so please contact the
Agency for free advice and help us to prevent pollution on 0845
9333111.
In case of emergency call: Freefone 0800 80 70 60
Beware of Imitations!!
