History of the Wheelie Bin

One of the most useful inventions of all time was undoubtedly the wheel, which was invented circa 3,500 B.C.

Wheeled bins are recorded from the early Roman times, and some excavations in Pompeii have unearthed crude timber forms of the wheelie bin. There is also evidence of them in the ancient Himalayas; cave paintings in the mountains show bins containing large bones that probably belonged to a mammoth. They were huge, crude versions and sometimes needed more than two persons to push.

The first bin recognised as a functional modern wheelie bin was invented in March 1968 by the Slough based company Frank Rotherham Mouldings. This simple bin was used primarily to solve the frustrating problem of transferring waste across the factory floor from one corner to another. It stayed in this role until a health and safety inspector in the factory had the idea that this bin was also very efficient for other roles and could also improve health and safety and reduce strains and spillages.

The full benefits of the efficiencies of wheelie bins was not really realised until the 1980s and the ‘rollout’ of these bins to residential users across the world. Remember the old round 60L gal bins and the rubbish collectors that would run along the street alongside the truck to empty the bins. And the trolleys were great to ride around the yard as kids! Was there less rubbish back then? Maybe not - those were also the days of the backyard brick incinerators which filled town with smoke from the regular weekly burn of combustible household waste. (The occasional aerosol can that found its way in with the rubbish would blast it to smithereens!)

Rubbish collectors regularly suffered back injuries by heavy waste bins and it was seen that these bins could effectively prevent this happening. This was not implemented until the late 1980’s when rubbish trucks came into existence which hydraulically picked up and emptied the bins. Being extremely handy, they truly started the reign of the wheelie bin.

Area Safe Products supply an extensive range of Wheelie Bins and accessories such as Bin Surrounds, Bin Corrals, Modular Post Lock System, Event bin Covers and ‘letterbox’ style Dome Tops.

Contact Us today on 1300 889 821 to speak to one of our helpful sales representatives.