Daily Star Sunday

TERROR OF THE FLYING WHEELIES

Storm alert: Bins can be deadly weapon

- By ISOBEL DICKINSON Chief Reporter isobel.dickinson@dailystar.co.uk

WAYWARD wheelie bins could kill in stormy weather, a waste company boss has warned.

An empty one can weigh the same as a bowling ball and cause “chaos and destructio­n” during gales.

They can also cause thousands of pounds of damage to property.

Mark Hall, of waste collection firm Divert.co.uk, said: “We’ve all seen videos of bins being blown down the street during storms.

“But what many people forget is that they’re heavy and can pack a real punch if they hit anything.

“The average empty domestic wheelie bin starts at around 10kg and goes up to 50kg for the commercial ones.

“Despite their weight, in gale-force winds gusting up to 50mph those harmless bins become mini missiles.

“Aside from the thousands of pounds of damage they can cause when blown into other people’s property, there is a huge danger to life if someone was to be hit by one.”

In 2016, a woman suffered “lifechangi­ng” injuries after she and a friend were struck by wheelie bins that had been sent flying by a hit-and-run driver. Last year, a video showing two wheelie bins flying in the sky during a storm went viral after it was posted on TikTok.

Mark added that bills for property damage caused by loose bins could run to huge sums – and may not be covered by household insurance.

He said: “Blown out into the street, even a domestic bin can cause thousands of pounds of damage to a car.

“Even a small dent could cost you between £50 and £150 and that might not be covered by your insurance excess, so it will come straight out of your pocket.”

Mark warned householde­rs to make sure their bins are lashed down when left outside.

He said: “Insurance companies – always looking to protect their bottom line – might not pay out if you have not made a reasonable attempt to secure your bins.

“The nightmare scenario is your bin pummelling your neighbour’s brand new Tesla.

“You might need to be as rich as Elon Musk to get out of that if your insurance turns you down.”

The company is urging people to make sure they secure their bins to protect themselves from any liability should they cause damage to other people’s property.

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 ?? ?? ‘In gales they become mini missiles’
‘In gales they become mini missiles’
 ?? ?? TOPPLED: Loose bins are a risk as well as messy; left, Mark
TOPPLED: Loose bins are a risk as well as messy; left, Mark

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