A bin man’s workday is physically demanding and filled with practical challenges — such as the collection truck not being able to access certain areas, or waste bins being placed in locations that are difficult to reach.

The bin men follow a fixed route and empty hundreds of bins throughout the day.

As a customer, just a little bit of preparation can help make the workday easier for the collectors.

For example, if bins are placed more than five meters from the road, it means many extra steps for the collector to empty them. With hundreds of bins to empty each day, those extra steps quickly add up. That’s why there is a five-meter limit, which is important to follow.

A bin man walks more than 20,000 steps and empties hundreds of bins every day

In their work, they face many challenges:

  • Bins placed too far away (more than 5 meters from the road)
  • Bins with handles facing away from the road
  • Overfilled bins
  • Very heavy bins that are difficult to roll
  • Bin stands with steps instead of ramps
  • Cars or other objects blocking access to the bins
  • Illegally parked cars blocking the road
  • Bins not cleared of snow
  • Slippery roads

Many of These Challenges Can Be Avoided with Simple Actions from Customers:

  • Place bins no more than 5 meters from where the truck stops
  • Position bins with the handles facing the road
  • Avoid placing objects directly in front of the bins
  • Do not overfill bins so that the lid cannot close
  • Clear snow around the bins on collection day

Challenges with waste bins

  • Incorrectly placed bins (too far from the road, hidden behind cars or other obstacles, or with handles facing the house)
  • Overfilled bins or incorrect sorting
  • Frozen or stuck lids during winter
  • Frozen waste inside the bins
  • Heavy bins that are difficult to roll
  • Physically demanding work

A bin man can walk 20,000–25,000 steps per day, depending on the route and type of housing. (That’s why it’s important that bins are placed no more than five meters from where the truck stops.)
Even if your bins are within five meters, it’s still helpful to roll them closer to the road on collection day, if possible 👍

In densely populated areas, collectors often walk between each house, while in rural areas, there may be longer driving distances between stops.
They handle heavy bins countless times throughout the day — a task that requires good physical fitness.

Weather and conditions

  • The work is carried out in all kinds of weather — rain, snow, cold, or heat
  • Slippery roads and poor visibility can make the job more dangerous and demanding
  • Bins can be stuck in snow

Obstacles

  • Bin men also have to deal with blocked roads or improperly parked cars

The photos below show some of the challenges waste collectors may face during a typical workday.

3 avfallsdunker, en med grønt lokk, en med gult lokk og en med blått lokk. Dunkene står på en liten treplatting med grønne busker på siden. Foto

Bin handles facing away from the road

Bins with handles facing the road make the job much easier for the bin men, as they can quickly and easily roll the bin to the truck.

Stativ i tre til avfallsdunker med to trappetrinn ned til bakken. Frem avfallsdunker plassert i stativet. Foto.

Bin stand

If you're building a stand for your bins, it's important that the bin men are able to roll the bins down and over to the truck. The bin men should not have to lift heavy bins full of waste.

Overfylte avfallsdunker som er fulle at lokkene ikke kan lukkes. Foto.

Overfilled bins

Overfilled bins become extra heavy and difficult for the bin men to roll to the truck. It’s also easy for waste to spill onto the ground, which means collectors have to spend time cleaning it up. In addition, many people place waste around the bins. Collectors are only responsible for collecting waste that is inside the bins. If you need more capacity, you should order additional or larger bins.

En sølvgrå bil parkert foran avfallsdunkene. Foto

Obstacles in front of bins

Nothing should be placed in front of the bins that blocks access to them.

Søppeldunker som er nedsnødd. Foto.

Bins covered in snow

Bins that are not cleared of snow cannot be emptied by the bin men.

En hvit Tesla parkert delvis i veien, slik at det ikke går an å passere for større biler. Foto.

Cars blocking the road

Cars parked in a way that prevents the waste collection truck from passing are also a challenge for the bin men. If the truck cannot get through, it may result in waste not being collected from many customers that day.

Avfallsdunker plassert innerst i gruset innkjørsel. Foto

Too long collection distance

Bins placed more than five meters from the road will not be emptied unless a paid collection service is arranged — up to 30 meters.