With more and more recycling collections being offered by local councils, the number of wheelie bins a household needs seems to be gradually growing as the years fall by.
As we’re no longer just keeping a single bin at the back of our homes to store waste until collection day, it’s become more desirable to have some way of hiding the growing number of dustbins.
Commonly, a property will have a large 240 litre general waste bin, alongside a recycling bin or two for each designated type of recycling waste. The specifics vary between council areas, with some having boxes and bags as well as bins for recycling.
In addition, residents can often also opt for garden waste collections too, meaning yet another large bin that needs to be kept somewhere between collections.
Some people simply choose to decorate their wheelie bins to make them a bit less of an eyesore, and the internet is awash with stickers to brighten them up, like these creations on Pinterest, and even online shops dedicated to wheelie bin art.
A lot of people, however, are turning to storage options for their bins, to conceal them and even prevent them from being stolen.
A quick look on Amazon (the UK store) shows that they’re selling thousands of these wheelie bin shelters every month, and that’s just one store.
By way of example, at the time of writing in August 2023, this mini shed by Keter alone is marked as having been sold over a thousand times in the previous month:
Of course, the bonus of buying from Amazon is always that they deliver to your door, so while I’d normally have headed down to B&Q for something along these lines, the sheer size of a wheelie bin shed would sway me into ordering on the web for delivery.
There’s a range of similar wheelie bin storage sheds available too, all variations on a theme. Here’s the top options currently available according to Amazon’s search:
Wheelie Bin Storage Sheds
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Keter 249319 Store it Out Nova Outdoor Garden Storage Shed, 32 x 71.5 x 113.5 cm, Dark Grey with Light Grey Lid
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Keter 250001 Store It Out Pro Outdoor Storage Shed, 145.5 x 82 x 123cm Beige/Brown
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Samuel ALEXANDER 2.03m x 1.14m Large Grey Wooden Outdoor Garden Triple Wheelie Bin Store Storage for 3 Bins
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1.34m x 1.2m Large Wooden Outdoor Garden Double Wheelie Bin Store Storage for 2 Bins
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Keter Store it Out Midi Wheelie Bin Box Beige / Brown
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As you might have guessed from the photo at the top of the page, where I live we have four wheelie bins, so I’ve been looking for a quad bin storage option, so that all four bins can be put away. They do exist, and I’ll go into more detail further down the page with options for each quantity.
However, it’s worth pointing out that you may be better opting for two blocks of two rather than a single block of four in a single bin shed unit, as it’s more versatile in where you can position them.
While you can place two dual units next to each other or completely separately, a single quad unit means all four must go together, and that’s quite a length. For most designs, quadruple bin sheds stretch to almost three metres long, so be sure you’ve got room where you want to locate them before ordering.
Sheds By Bin Quantity
Let’s have a look at the popular options for each quality of bins, starting with single sheds and increasing as high as four. While bigger options are available, this will cover most areas across the UK.
Single Bin Sheds
If you just want to store a single wheelie bin, here’s some good options:
Single Bin Storage Sheds
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Samuel ALEXANDER 68cm x 1.2m Wooden Outdoor Garden Single Wheelie Bin Store Storage
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Wheelie bin storage pressure treated garden recycling store lid shed outdoor trash cover (Single, Without recycling shelf, Natural (Light Green))
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Selections Willow Wheelie Bin Screen (Single)
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KCT Single Wheel Bin Timber Storage Shed – 240L Outdoor Wheelie Bins Storage Box
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Samuel ALEXANDER 68cm x 1.14m Grey Wooden Outdoor Garden Wheelie Bin Store Storage for 1 Bin
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Double Bin Sheds
For double the space, such as two wheelie bins:
Dual Bin Storage Sheds
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Image | Description |
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1.34m x 1.2m Large Wooden Outdoor Garden Double Wheelie Bin Store Storage for 2 Bins
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Keter 249319 Store it Out Nova Outdoor Garden Storage Shed, 32 x 71.5 x 113.5 cm, Dark Grey with Light Grey Lid
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BinBreeze wheelie bin storage unit, wooden outdoor cover, recycling box storage (Double, without shelf)
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Keter 250001 Store It Out Pro Outdoor Storage Shed, 145.5 x 82 x 123cm Beige/Brown
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1.33m x 1.25m Large Wooden Outdoor Garden Double Wheelie Bin Store Storage for 2 Bins
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Triple Bin Sheds
For a general waste bin and a couple of recycle bins you may wish to consider:
Triple Bin Storage Sheds
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Rowlinson Triple Wheelie Bin Store Natural 230x82x130 cm
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Samuel ALEXANDER 2.03m x 1.14m Large Grey Wooden Outdoor Garden Triple Wheelie Bin Store Storage for 3 Bins
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Samuel ALEXANDER 1.99m x 1.22m Large Wooden Outdoor Garden Triple Wheelie Bin Store Storage for 3 Bins
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Warmiehomy 3 Wheelie Bin Storage Outdoor Triple Wheelie Bin Storage Wheelie Bin Hideaways for Outside Bin Shed for Garden, 191L x 86W x 122.5H cm,1 cm thickness
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Selections GF6500 Triple Wheelie Bin Screen
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Quadruple Bin Sheds
For storage of up to four bins:
Quad Bin Storage Sheds
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Image | Description |
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BinBreeze wheelie bin storage unit, wooden outdoor cover, recycling box storage (Quadruple, without shelf)
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Arbor Garden Solutions VerdiBin wheelie bin storage unit, outdoor dustbin storage (Quadruple, without shelf)
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Wheelie bin storage pressure treated garden recycling store lid shed outdoor trash cover – Premium Tongue And Groove (Quadruple, without shelf)
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Quadruple Wheelie 4 Bin Shed Dustbin Cover Sorting Trash Isolation Cover 240 L Stainless Steel
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vidaXL Quadruple Wheelie Bin Shed Waste Container Enclosure Garage Wheelie Trash Bin Shed Store Storage Cabinet Box Cover Stainless Steel
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Advantages Of Wheelie Bin Storage
Having somewhere to keep your bins has a number of advantages:
- Aesthetics
Wheelie bins aren’t the prettiest things to look at, so having an enclosure to keep them in can make your back garden look a lot tidier. Admittedly, some bin shelter units are a lot more aesthetically pleasing than others, but it’s also fair to say that almost any option is preferable to the multi coloured assortment of bulky wheelie bins we get allocation by our councils. - Security
There’s been growing numbers of reports of stolen wheelie bins over the years, ranging from neighbours taking each others bins (accidentally or otherwise) after collections to sinister social media trends with bins being taken and set alight. Keeping your bin in a shelter makes it far harder for them to be taken quickly and quietly. - Protection From Weather
We’ve all heard bins crash to the ground as they spill their contents to be spread by stormy winds. Shelters help shield your bins and keep the waste in them secure from escaping, even on windy days. - Freeing Up Space
If you’ve been keeping your bins safe in the garage, it might appeal to free that space up by moving the wheelie bins to a dedicated spot with a shed or shelter.
Disadvantages Of Wheelie Bin Storage
There are only really three common downsides to these shelters:
- Accessibility
Depending on the model of shelter you choose, you might find it a little inconvenient initially to put your waste into the wheelie bins. Some shelters have lifting lids, just like the bins, whereas others require to to pull the bin forward from the enclosure. I’m not the most patient of people and it took me a few weeks to get used to using a bin shed, but now it’s second nature, so you do get used to it relatively quickly. - Cost
The initial outlay for a bin shelter is fairly significant, but it is only a one off. Most of us spend a lot of time and money looking after our gardens, so while a mini shed isn’t top of our wish list, it’s a fairly common thing to spend money on to keep things looking neat. - Space
While bins take up space, so do the sheds we put them in when we buy one of these shelters. Fortunately, it’s not much bigger than the total space occupied by the bins themselves, so you’re not really losing out, it just doesn’t reduce the space you need for your bins.
Bin Storage Maintenance
If you’re the sort of person that prefers to keep DIY jobs to a minimum, it’s a good idea to opt for a plastic style bin shelter. These are very low maintenance, and it’s up to you if you choose to keep it clean. All it needs is a periodic wipe down to keep it looking presentable, but it will continue to be functional even without that effort.
On the other hand, wooden sheds can look much nicer, but they’ll need a little more care and attention over time. The obvious example is that the wood might need treating every few years to keep the materials weather resistant and help the structure last as long as possible.
All in all, bin storage comes in a variety of designs, and is great to keep the garden tidy and hide unsightly wheelie bins. While there’s an initial cost, the benefits of having a designated spot to put them away will likely outweigh the outlay for most people.