Nappy Bins

Nappy Bins and the Law: What You Need to Know

If you offer baby changing facilities in your washroom, you should be aware of the laws surrounding offensive waste. Used nappies are classed as offensive waste, and, as such, must be kept secure so no one ever has to come into contact with them. That means you shouldn’t be able to see, touch, or smell them once they’re in the bin! This seems like common sense, but it can be surprising how quickly foul odours can build up, so it’s important that you stay on top of it.

Depending on the total weight of dirty nappies you have, they may need to be disposed of separately from your general waste. If you have over 7kg of offensive waste (bear in mind this includes feminine hygiene waste, too), or if you produce more than one bag of waste during a collection period, you’ll need to dispose of it separately. If you have less than 7kg of offensive waste, you can dispose of it in your mixed municipal waste.

What all of this means is that business owners are required to carefully manage the disposal of nappies (and other offensive waste). The only practical way to do this is by using a nappy bin! They’ll let you keep your offensive waste separate in a discreet and customer-friendly manner.

Preventing Foul Odours in Nappy Bins

Nappy bins use liners to hold waste, much like regular bins do. You can use any quality bin liner for this, provided they’re strong enough to hold up without breaking! A heavy-duty liner will do a lot to contain some of the foul odours that can build up inside a nappy bin, but it’s a good idea to pick up some bin fresheners, too.

An important detail that it’s easy to overlook, these fragrance sachets will prevent bad smells from creeping into your washroom. Just pop one into your nappy bin and it’ll mask foul odours, keeping your whole washroom fresh. They’re one of those details that will only be noticed by their absence, so they’re definitely worth it to keep your washroom users happy.

Fragrance sachets contain a scented material – usually a gel or some granules – and most can simply be dropped into your nappy bin and forgotten about. Sometimes, you might need to open the sachets themselves to tip their contents into the bin. You can also find loose air freshening granules, which are a more eco-friendly way to keep your washroom fresh.

What to Look for in a Nappy Bin

There aren’t many people out there who could be considered nappy bin experts! If you’re not one of them, you might find it difficult to figure out which one is right for your business. It’s far from the most glamorous subject, but it is an important one, and being informed about it could save you a lot of headaches in the future. With that in mind, it’s important to read up on what you should be looking for in a nappy bin so you can make an informed choice.

Durability

Arguably the most important feature of any nappy bin is how tough it is. The last thing you want is for your bin to break as it could result in a serious hygiene issue! If you think your baby changing facilities are going to see a lot of use, then you should choose the most durable bin you can afford. Our range of nappy bins are all tested to meet the highest standards, but if you’re unsure about which one is best for you, just get in touch! Call us on 0800 091 3171 or use the live chat function at the bottom of your screen for more personal advice.

Operating Mechanism

Most nappy bins are pedal-operated. This is for both safety and convenience, as parents always need their hands free when carrying a baby. Usually, they’ll also include a chute or a modesty flap of some kind to ensure that the contents of the bin are kept hidden. You should consider this an essential feature as it’ll ensure that your customers never have to see (or smell) the dirty nappies inside the bin when they open it!

As it’s so important, you want a nappy bin’s operating mechanism to be really durable. If it breaks, you’ll end up with the contents of your bin on the show to the world, which you definitely don’t want!

Capacity

The capacity of your nappy bin is another important factor to consider. Think about how much your baby changing facilities actually get used. If you work in a busy family restaurant or a shopping centre, you’ll naturally need a bigger nappy bin. If it’s too small, you’ll end up with a bin that gets full too quickly, meaning it’ll need to be emptied far more regularly. If your bin is far too big, you could end up paying over the odds for something you don’t need.

It’s always best to pick up a bin that’s slightly bigger than you think you need. This is because not all nappies are the same size, so you want to leave yourself with a bit of wiggle room – the last thing you want is an overflowing nappy bin!

Looks

You might not realise it, but the way your nappy bin looks is very important. You want it to be discreet, but not too discreet; you still want people to be able to tell what it actually is, after all! With this in mind, it’s a good idea to choose a subtle design in a different colour from your other washroom bins. This way, it’ll still look discreet and professional, but anyone who needs to use it will be able to identify it quickly.

We stock a massive variety of designs and colours, so it’s easy to find something that fits perfectly into your washroom. Whether you want a bin that fits into – or contrasts with – your existing colour scheme, or if you simply want a no-nonsense option that gets the job done at the lowest price, you can find what you’re looking for on this page.