By Chris, Director at Store Fittings Direct. Last updated 23 October 2026.
A litter bin is a fixed or free-standing waste container for public and commercial spaces: high streets, shop forecourts, car parks, school grounds, parks, offices and canteens. Commercial litter bins are built tougher than anything you'd use at home. They have lockable hoods or liners, can be bolted down, and come in steel, recycled plastic or UV-stable plastic, usually holding 30 to 150 litres.
Quick answer: In the UK, a good commercial litter bin costs roughly £120–£300 ex VAT for plastic indoor and outdoor bins, £290–£500 ex VAT for galvanised steel street bins and £650–£770 ex VAT for stainless steel. At Store Fittings Direct, prices start at £121.54 ex VAT (EcoAce indoor recycling bin), £173.47 (Dalby 30L dog waste bin), £225.76 (Octaplus Midi outdoor bin) and £289.99 (Carlton galvanised steel bin). Outdoors, most sites need 60–100 litres per bin, or 140–150 litres where people eat on the go. Littering can now land the person who drops it a fine of up to £500 in England. Since 31 March 2025, workplaces in England with 10 or more full-time-equivalent staff have had to separate dry recycling, food waste and general waste, so many sites now need recycling bins as well as litter bins.
Contents
- Types of litter bin
- Litter bin prices UK (2026 table)
- What size litter bin do you need?
- Materials: steel vs plastic vs recycled plastic
- UK rules: litter law and recycling
- The right bin for your site
- Siting, installation and maintenance
- Why buy litter bins from Store Fittings Direct
- FAQs
Types of litter bin
Most commercial bins fall into six groups. Pick the type first, then the size and material.
Open-top and flare-top street bins
Open-top bins are the classic high street and park bin: easy to use, though rain can get in. Our Flare Top Litter Bin is 870mm high by 575mm across, 89 litres, with a lockable steel liner as standard and a galvanised or grade 304 stainless finish.
Square slatted steel bins
Square steel bins like the Carlton Litter Bin and the Gretton Litter Bin come in 45, 75 or 90 litres. You can have them galvanised, galvanised and powder coated in a RAL colour, or stainless steel. They suit town centres and business parks where the bin should match your benches and seating.
Hooded (covered) plastic bins
Hooded bins have a lid with openings on several sides. Rain stays out, the smell stays in, and gulls and foxes can't get at the contents. The Octaplus Midi (60–95L), Octaplus Maxi (140L) and Octaplus Jumbo (150L) have lockable hoods and are made from UV-stable, colourfast plastic.
Recycling bins
Recycling bins have colour-coded lids and labels for each waste stream: paper, mixed recycling, cans, plastic bottles, food and general waste. Indoor units like the Envirobin Midi (82L) and Envirobin 140 Maxi group neatly into recycling stations. The EcoAce (41, 52 or 62 litres) is a lower-cost option for small offices and classrooms.
Dog waste bins
Dog waste bins are smaller, usually around 30 litres, and are mounted on a post or wall with a clear hygiene sign on the front. The Dalby Dog Waste Bin is made from tough, UV-resistant MDPE with a metal lid. Some councils now tell dog walkers that bagged dog waste can go in any public litter bin.
Cigarette bins
Cigarette ends are litter in law, the same as a crisp packet. If people smoke on your site, put a cigarette bin or a combined bin at the smoking point, ideally next to a smoking shelter. See our smoking shelter compliance guide for where these can and can't go.
Litter bin prices UK (2026 table)
These are real Store Fittings Direct prices on 23 October 2026. All prices are ex VAT; the website shows both ex and inc VAT. "From" means the cheapest size or finish. Liners, locks, anchor plates and powder coating add to the price.
| Bin | Type | Capacity | Best for | From (ex VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EcoAce Recycling Bin | Indoor recycling | 41 / 52 / 62L | Small offices, classrooms | £121.54 |
| Dalby Dog Waste Bin | Dog waste | 30L | Parks, footpaths, estates | £173.47 |
| Octaplus Midi | Hooded plastic | 60–95L | Forecourts, schools, shopfronts | £225.76 |
| School Pencil Litter Bin | Novelty plastic | 70L | Primary schools, play areas | £236.36 |
| Envirobin Midi | Indoor recycling | 82L | Offices, canteens | £236.92 |
| Octaplus Maxi | Hooded plastic | 140L | Busy retail and food areas | £251.90 |
| Carlton Litter Bin | Square steel | 45 / 75 / 90L | Town centres, retail parks | £289.99 |
| Octaplus Jumbo | Hooded plastic | 150L | Takeaways, transport hubs | £292.42 |
| Gretton Litter Bin | Square steel | 45 / 75 / 90L | Business parks, campuses | £314.25 |
| Flare Top Litter Bin | Open-top steel | 89L | High streets, parks | £362.79 |
| Envirobin 140 Maxi | Indoor recycling | 140L | High-volume offices | £476.92 |
| Recycled Plastic Litter Bin | Recycled plastic, covered | 100L | Parks, rural sites, schools | £631.74 |
What drives the price? Mostly material and finish. For example, the 45-litre Carlton is £289.99 galvanised, £374.92 galvanised and powder coated, and £678.25 in stainless steel (all ex VAT). The Flare Top goes from £362.79 galvanised to £763.19 in stainless. Extras such as locks, metal liners and anchor plates usually add £20–£45 a bin.
What size litter bin do you need?
There's no legal minimum size. The right size is the one that doesn't overflow between empties. Overflowing bins are a common cause of complaints, and they're one of the things a council can tell a business to sort out (see the rules below). As a rough guide:
- 30–45 litres: dog waste points, quiet footpaths, office entrances, alongside a bench.
- 60–95 litres: most shopfronts, school playgrounds, car parks and business parks. This is the sweet spot for most buyers.
- 120–150 litres: takeaways, coffee shops, forecourts, bus stops and anywhere people eat and drink on the move. Food packaging is bulky.
- Indoor recycling: 40–60 litres per stream for a small office or classroom, and 80–140 litres per stream for canteens and open-plan floors.
Two smaller bins often beat one large one, because people won't walk far to a bin. If a bin is regularly full before collection day, either empty it more often or swap it for the next size up.
Materials: steel vs plastic vs recycled plastic
Galvanised steel
Hot-dip galvanising coats steel in zinc to stop rust. It's tough, fire-resistant and hard to vandalise, so it's the standard choice for streets and parks. Add powder coating if you want a colour to match your brand or other street furniture.
Stainless steel
Grade 304 stainless looks smart and stays smart, which suits shopping centres, hotels, corporate entrances and transport hubs. It costs roughly twice as much as galvanised steel.
Plastic (MDPE / polyethylene)
Rotationally moulded plastic bins are light, don't rust, don't dent permanently and come in bright colours. Look for UV-stabilised plastic so the colour doesn't fade. They're the best value, and the right choice for schools and forecourts.
Recycled plastic
The Recycled Plastic Litter Bin is made from 100% recycled agricultural film. It won't rot, splinter or need painting, and it matches our recycled plastic benches and picnic tables. Ideal for parks and nature reserves.
UK rules: litter law and recycling
No law tells most businesses which bin to buy, but several rules make litter your problem. In plain English:
1. Dropping litter is a criminal offence, with fines up to £500
Under section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, it's an offence to drop, throw or leave litter anywhere open to the air. In England the maximum fixed penalty a council can issue went up from £150 to £500 in 2023, as confirmed by councils including Lichfield District Council and Cotswold District Council. The fine hits the person who drops litter, but if customers have nowhere to put it, the mess ends up outside your door.
2. Some organisations have a legal duty to keep land clear of litter
Section 89 of the same Act puts a duty on "duty bodies" to keep their land clear of litter. These include councils, railway and airport operators, and the governing bodies of designated schools, colleges and universities. The government's Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse (updated February 2026) grades land from A (no litter) to D (heavily littered) and treats grades C and D as unacceptable. A single small item drops an area to grade B. Enough well-placed bins, emptied regularly, are the cheapest way to stay at grade A.
3. Councils can make businesses deal with litter near their premises
In England and Wales, councils can serve a Community Protection Notice on a business whose activities cause a persistent litter problem. These notices came in under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and replaced the old street litter control notices (explanatory notes). The government's Code of Practice gives the example of a notice requiring a business to make sure "bins are emptied before they overflow". In Scotland, street litter control notices still apply and can require "the provision or emptying of receptacles for litter or refuse" (EPA 1990, s94). And under 2022 planning guidance, councils in England can require new hot food takeaways to install more bins.
4. Simpler Recycling: workplaces must separate their waste
Since 31 March 2025, businesses and other workplaces in England with 10 or more full-time-equivalent employees must keep dry recycling (paper and card, plastic, metal and glass), food waste and general waste separate. Micro-firms with fewer than 10 FTE staff must comply from 31 March 2027 (GOV.UK; Charnwood Borough Council). Wales has had its own workplace recycling rules since April 2024. In practice, that means colour-coded recycling bins in offices, staff rooms and canteens, plus the right wheelie bins and a bin store outside. Our Simpler Recycling business guide covers this in more detail.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so check with your local council if you're unsure.
The right bin for your site
Shops, convenience stores and forecourts
A hooded plastic bin by the entrance stops wrappers blowing across your car park. Choose 95 litres or more if you sell food to go. Inside, a small recycling station near your food to go area keeps cups and packaging off the shop floor.
Takeaways, cafés and hospitality
Go big: a 140–150 litre hooded bin such as the Octaplus Jumbo. Covered bins keep gulls out. If your council has served a litter notice or set a planning condition, check whether it says how many bins and where.
Schools and colleges
Schools are duty bodies under section 89, so litter on school grounds is the school's legal responsibility. Bright, fun bins get used. Our School Pencil Litter Bin (70L) comes in a row of colours and can carry WRAP-style recycling labels to teach children to sort their waste. Browse the full school bins and seating range or everything for schools.
Parks, councils and parish councils
Councils usually standardise on one steel or recycled plastic design across a town, plus dog waste bins at park gates and on footpaths. Galvanised steel lasts and is hard to damage. Recycled plastic suits greener, rural settings. See our products for local councils guide and the councils collection.
Offices, warehouses and business parks
Outside, a square steel bin by the entrance and the smoking area. Inside, recycling stations to meet Simpler Recycling. For staff smoking areas, pair a cigarette bin with a shelter (see our smoking and vaping shelter guide).
Siting, installation and maintenance
Where to put litter bins
- Where the litter is made: shop exits, takeaway doors, bus stops, benches, smoking points and car park pay machines. A bin 20 metres away won't get used.
- Keep paths clear: don't block footways, dropped kerbs or tactile paving, and leave room for wheelchairs and buggies.
- Make it easy to empty: place bins where staff or contractors can reach them with a trolley, and near your main bin store.
- Away from buildings and doors where you can: this cuts the risk if contents are set alight. In winter, put a grit bin nearby, not instead.
Fixing it down
Most steel bins bolt straight onto concrete or paving. Plastic bins can be fitted with an anchor plate (around £27–£45 extra ex VAT on the Octaplus range) or post-mounted, in the case of dog waste bins. Fixing down stops theft, tipping and wheeling-off.
Maintenance
- Empty before the bin is full, not once it's overflowing. Busy sites may need emptying every day.
- Use a liner (sack retention ring, plastic or galvanised liner) to make emptying quick and keep the body clean.
- Wash bins every few weeks, more often in summer and where food waste goes in.
- Check locks, hinges and fixings every quarter. Touch up chipped powder coating to stop rust starting.
Why buy litter bins from Store Fittings Direct
- A wide range in one place: litter, recycling, dog waste and wheelie bins, plus the benches, shelters and bin stores that go with them. See the full litter and cigarette bins range.
- Clear prices: every price is shown ex VAT and inc VAT, so you know exactly what you're paying.
- Free delivery on over 90% of products.
- Over 30 years' experience supplying retailers, the NHS, councils, warehouses and construction firms.
- ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified, and a SEDEX member.
- Every one of our Google reviews is five stars.
- Straight answers: call our advice line on 0116 318 4182 if you're not sure which bin or size you need.
More background: our guide on how to choose waste bins for business.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a commercial litter bin cost in the UK?
Expect roughly £120–£300 ex VAT for a plastic bin, £290–£500 ex VAT for galvanised steel and £650–£770 ex VAT for stainless steel. At Store Fittings Direct, prices start at £121.54 ex VAT.
What size litter bin do I need outside a shop?
For most shopfronts, 60–95 litres is enough. If you sell food or drink to take away, go for 120–150 litres or add a second bin, and empty it before it overflows.
Do businesses have to provide litter bins?
There's no general law requiring every business to have a litter bin. But councils can use Community Protection Notices and planning conditions to make some businesses, such as takeaways, provide and empty bins. Schools, councils and some transport operators have a legal duty to keep their land clear of litter.
What is the fine for dropping litter in England?
Councils in England can issue a fixed penalty of up to £500 for littering under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The maximum went up from £150 in 2023.
Is a steel or plastic litter bin better?
Galvanised or stainless steel is tougher and better in high-vandalism or high-street locations. Plastic is cheaper, lighter, doesn't rust and suits schools, forecourts and indoor use. Recycled plastic is low-maintenance and suits parks and rural areas.
Can dog waste go in a normal litter bin?
In many areas, yes. Several councils now say bagged dog waste can go in any public litter bin. Check your local council's rules, and use a dedicated dog waste bin where signage helps encourage people to clean up.
Do I need recycling bins at work?
In England, yes, if you have 10 or more full-time-equivalent employees. Since 31 March 2025 you must separate dry recycling, food waste and general waste. Smaller workplaces must do the same from 31 March 2027.
Should outdoor litter bins have lids?
Hooded or covered bins keep out rain, gulls and foxes and reduce smells, so they're best for food waste and coastal sites. Open-top bins are easier to use and suit general street litter, ideally with a lockable liner.
