Bin Bags

Gauge Thickness and Load Capacity

Micron gauge determines tear resistance and load capacity. A 12-micron bag handles around 5kg of light office waste—paper, packaging, dry materials. Step up to 20–30 micron for food service waste (wet, heavy, sharper items like cans and food trays). Industrial sites need 30–50 micron: construction debris, metal offcuts, anything with sharp edges or significant weight. Under-spec the gauge and bags split during handling or removal. That creates trip hazards (HSE reports around 1,000 construction site trips annually involving fractures) and non-compliance with the Environmental Protection Act Section 34 duty of care for safe waste storage.

Capacity Matching and Common Mistakes

Bag capacity must match bin volume exactly. The most common mistake? Buying 90-litre bags for 120-litre wheelie bins. The bag doesn't reach the rim, slips down during filling, and tears when you try to lift it out. Standard capacities: • 50–70 litres for office pedal bins • 90–120 litres for wheelie bins • 140–240 litres for commercial waste containers. Oversize bags bunch at the bottom and waste money. Undersize bags create spillage risk and handling problems during collection.

Colour Coding for Waste Segregation

UK Waste Regulations 2011 require businesses to separate recyclable waste. Colour-coded bin bags simplify compliance: black for general waste, clear for recyclables (so collectors can verify contents), blue for paper and card, green for food waste. Many facilities use coloured bags to avoid cross-contamination between waste streams. Non-compliance carries unlimited fines under the Environmental Protection Act. Clear bags also help identify contamination before waste leaves site—one non-recyclable item in a recycling load can reject the entire batch.

Standards and Compliance

BS EN 13592:2017 specifies requirements for plastic sacks used in household and commercial waste collection. It covers film type, sealing strength, tear resistance, and load capacity testing. Compliant bags meet defined performance thresholds—useful when tendering for contracts or meeting waste contractor specifications. The standard ensures consistent quality across suppliers. For workplace safety, proper waste containment supports HSE requirements to keep premises clean and in good order (Health and Safety at Work Act).