Proper bin storage plays an important role on any commercial site. Businesses have legal responsibilities for the waste they generate. This includes storing it securely, keeping lids closed, preventing litter from escaping, and keeping bins away from pavements or streets, all of which help maintain hygiene and reduce the likelihood of attracting vermin or pests. Another issue that local authorities are worried about is tampering with waste and the fire safety risks that come with that. Arson and accidental fires are a major concern.
Mixed waste, cardboard, and packaging materials can be highly combustible, so protecting your bins is important to reduce the risk of ignition. Beyond safety, bin storage also affects how a site looks and feels. A well-designed enclosure can transform an unsightly waste area into a tidy, organised, and visually integrated part of the environment — something especially important for offices, retail parks, hospitality venues, and other public-facing locations. Security matters too. Robust enclosures help prevent unauthorised access, fly-tipping, vandalism, and animal interference, ensuring that only designated staff can access the waste area.
With these considerations in mind, the next step is understanding how to assess and choose the right bin storage solution for commercial use.
Key Considerations When Choosing Commercial Bin Storage
Capacity & Waste Volume
A solid starting point for choosing storage for a commercial space is understanding how much waste your site generates. The key point here is to make an estimate based on daily and weekly waste amounts. Then calculate how many days there are between rubbish collection and how much space you require for how many bins. Underestimating your waste can lead to frequent overflows or extra bins; overestimating can result in wasted money and unnecessarily large enclosures.
Additionally, choose a bin store that accommodates the right bin sizes – from small wheelie bins to large industrial and commercial bins. When selecting a bin shelter, ensure it can handle the maximum number and volume of bins required.
Allow space for lid opening, bin manoeuvring, and access for waste collection. Many waste-storage guidelines require sufficient clearance for lids and easy access for operatives.
Security & Access Control
Security and controlled access are essential considerations when choosing a bin storage solution for any commercial site. Lockable gates or doors play a crucial role in preventing unauthorised dumping, fly-tipping and interference by third parties or animals, helping keep the area tidy, compliant and secure. This is why all of our models of bin stores and shelters come with gates.
It is also important to consider how access will be managed day to day; our models address this by offering options such as robust locking mechanisms. Restricted key access or controlled entry systems are particularly valuable in mixed-use, public or semi-public locations where multiple groups may interact with the space. Often, local councils have rules that require mixed-use developments’ waste to be segregated, with household and commercial waste bins in separate, secured bin storage areas. Furthermore, you may often need to secure the commercial bin storage area to prevent residents from disposing of household waste there.
In addition, segregating different waste streams within the store—such as general waste, recycling, food waste, or confidential waste—helps maintain better organisation, supports compliance with waste regulations, and keeps the area cleaner and easier for staff and waste collection teams to manage.
Material & Fire Safety
When it comes to what bin shelters are made of, it is important to consider factors such as corrosion resistance, weather resistance, fire risk, waste type, and security.
Timber bin shelters, such as the attractive wood-clad options available in our range, offer a warm, natural look that blends perfectly into landscaped areas, courtyards, residential-commercial developments, hospitality venues, and any setting where aesthetics matter. Timber is eco-friendly, sturdy, and visually appealing, making it an excellent choice when design and integration are priorities. Modern treated or FSC-certified woods provide good durability outdoors. However, it’s still important to keep in mind that timber—while robust—is not non-combustible, so sites with higher fire-risk profiles may prefer steel-based alternatives.
For environments where fire safety, longevity, and all-weather performance are essential, steel bin stores are often the preferred option. Non-combustible by nature, steel—whether in perforated panels, solid sheet steel, or steel mesh—reduces fire risk significantly compared to timber or plastic. Steel enclosures are also incredibly resilient: galvanised or powder-coated steel is corrosion-resistant, impact-resistant, and able to withstand years of exposure to rain, frost, UV, and heavy commercial use with minimal maintenance. This makes them especially well-suited to industrial estates, retail parks, public buildings, and any location where durability and fire resistance must come first.
Weather Protection & Ventilation
When choosing a commercial bin storage solution, it’s important to ensure the structure offers effective weather protection while still allowing adequate airflow. A well-designed shelter should shield bins from rain, wind, and other harsh external conditions, preventing issues such as litter blown around, water pooling inside bins, and weather-related damage to the containers themselves.
At the same time, ventilation is essential: placing sealed waste containers in a fully enclosed, airtight space can quickly lead to odour build-up, condensation, and potential hygiene problems. The best bin store designs strike a balance by combining solid, weather-resistant frames with slatted, perforated, or otherwise ventilated cladding that encourages natural airflow while keeping the elements out.
Ease of Maintenance & Waste Handling
Easy maintenance and straightforward waste handling are essential for any commercial bin store. Features such as wide, sliding, or hinged, lockable gates allow smooth access for staff and waste collection teams. At the same time, adequate internal height clearance ensures bin lids can be opened fully without obstruction.
A smooth, durable floor or base makes regular cleaning and wash-downs quick and hygienic, reducing odours and preventing pest issues. It should also be easy to remove and return bins without tight corners or awkward manoeuvring.
Where relevant, consider useful optional extras such as built-in lighting for improved visibility, anti-vandal fixings for added security, clear signage to support waste segregation, and modular expansion options that allow your bin storage capacity to grow as your site’s needs change.
Recommended Best Practices & Site Planning Tips
1. Start by designating a dedicated bin storage area. This should be positioned away from flammable materials, should not block escape routes or utilities, and ideally should be set back from main building façades to reduce fire and security risks.
2. Keep all bins locked and lids fully closed when they’re not in use. This prevents waste from blowing around in bad weather, discourages pests, protects the site from vandalism, and significantly reduces the likelihood of deliberate or accidental fires.
3. Make sure your chosen location is easily accessible for waste collection teams. Allow sufficient clearance for manoeuvring bins, ensure the ground surface is level and stable, and use gates or doors that open wide enough to allow containers to be moved without obstruction.
4. When planning capacity, always build in a margin. Select a bin store that can comfortably handle your current waste volumes, with additional space for future growth or unexpected surges — especially useful during seasonal peaks or business expansion.
5. If you are located in an area prone to arson, choose bin stores made from non-combustible materials. This can also be important for commercial sites that must comply with strict fire-safety regulations or that store combustible waste.
6. If your site handles multiple waste streams — general, recycling, hazardous, or confidential waste — consider adding segregation and access control. Lockable compartments, coded gates, or clearly labelled bays can improve compliance, reduce contamination, and simplify day-to-day waste management.
7. Finally, build in a routine for maintenance and inspection. Check regularly for rust, structural wear, damaged panels, or issues with gate operation. Ensure locks are functioning properly and refresh protective coatings or carry out repairs as needed to keep the bin store safe, clean, and long-lasting.
A commercial bin store is more than simply a place to hide wheelie bins. Done properly, it’s an investment that increases safety, hygiene, and the visual appeal of your site: it minimises fire risk, deters vandalism or unauthorised access, streamlines waste collection, helps control odours and pests, and ensures waste infrastructure stays functional as your needs evolve.
We offer flexible solutions to match different budgets, site types, and priorities — from secure industrial yards to aesthetically sensitive corporate or hospitality campuses. Choosing the right bin store now means fewer headaches later — and a cleaner, safer, more presentable environment for staff, clients, residents, or visitors.