Waste storage and collection guidance - Chorley Borough Council

Chorley Council 

Sustainable Design and Construction Guidance 

Waste Storage and Collection 

Guidance for new Developments. 

WASTE STORAGE AND COLLECTION 

GUIDANCE FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS 

CONTENTS 

Page 

1 Introduction 2 

2 Planning Applications 3 

3 Internal Segregation of Waste 3 

4 Housing Developments 4 

5 Apartment Developments 5-6 

6 Commercial Developments 7 

7 Contacts 8 

8 Appendices 10-14 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

Container dimensions 

Collection vehicle dimensions 

Containers required for apartment developments 

Storage areas and container collection for apartment, commercial and mixed-use 

developments 

Examples of good and bad practice 

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1 INTRODUCTION 

• Chorley Council is committed to the principle of sustainable development. This vision, together 

with our legal obligations as a local authority, involves focusing on how we manage our waste. 

The key issue is ensuring that we maximise the amount that is recycled and reduce the need for 

the unsustainable option of landfill. 

• The Lancashire Waste Strategy places a general duty on the Council to offer a kerbside recycling 

service to 90% of households and to recycle or compost 58% of household waste by 2015. The 

Chorley Borough Local Development Framework requires new developments to minimise waste 

production and encourage the recycling of waste products. 

• In order to fulfil these objectives it is vital new developments are designed to enable waste to be 

segregated for recycling, and to be stored and collected in a convenient way. 

• This document will assist all those involved in the design and management of buildings to 

produce waste management strategies that best facilitate the storage of waste and maximise the 

amount that can be sent for recycling. It is a material planning consideration that developers are 

conscious of the waste that will be generated by their developments and that their proposal 

satisfies all the requirements of this document. 

• This document is part of an evolving process to develop best practice guidance for the design 

and management of buildings in Chorley Borough and should be read within the context of other 

Council policies and legislation. The guidance offered also serves to ensure developments have 

adequate storage capacity and access for the domestic refuse and recycling services operated by 

Chorley Council. 

• This guidance outlines developer’s responsibilities for waste storage and collection in new 

developments, however all developers should be aware of their Duty of Care obligations with 

respect to waste production, storage, and handling, as detailed in Waste Management Duty of 

Care Code of Practice. 

• Following the guidance in this document is intended to help developers to produce successful 

waste management strategies and will also assist in complying with Part H of the Building 

Regulations 2002. 

• This guidance applies to proposals for all new builds, and any developments to existing 

properties that will result in inadequate refuse and recycling storage and collection facilities. 

• New residential developments should include adequate and appropriate means of storing 

residual waste and recyclables on the premises in a dedicated, suitably screened position for a 

period of two weeks. 

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2 PLANNING APPLICATIONS 

• New developments are expected to include a waste management strategy, incorporating the 

areas covered in this document. This guide is designed to help achieve this. 

• This guidance should be used from the earliest stages of building design. Inadequately sized bin 

storage areas, poor access for collection crews and vehicles and other aspects of waste 

management are difficult to correct. The recommendations are integral to the design of a building 

and provide information that is useful for building designers and assures planning officers that a 

suitable waste management strategy has been developed. 

After planning permission has been granted 

• Where Chorley Council is to provide refuse/recycling containers the developer must notify the 

Waste Management department at least one month before the development is due to be occupied. 

3 INTERNAL SEGREGATION AND STORAGE OF WASTE 

• To encourage occupants to recycle waste, internal storage areas should be designed into each 

unit of a new development. This will enable occupants to segregate their waste into refuse and 

recyclables and to store it temporarily until it can be transferred to external bins. 

• Where provision for internal storage is included, occupants should be supplied with container(s) 

for the internal segregation of waste for recycling. The Council does not provide such containers. 

• Options that developers may wish to consider are kitchen units with pull out drawers with 

separate containers. There are several such products on the market. 

4 HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS 

Containers required for storage of waste (2010) 

Waste type Refuse Garden waste 

Paper, Glass, 

Cans, Plastic Cardboard 

bottles 

Container type 

Green 

Brown 

Blue 

wheeled bin wheeled bin wheeled bin 

Green box 

Capacity (litres) 240 or 360 240 240 55 

The dimensions for the above containers can be found in Appendix A. 

Storage areas for containers 

• The containers described above should be accommodated within the boundary of each property. 

• Containers should have designated storage areas that are sensitively located and designed. 

Storage areas should be large enough to house at least a 240-litre refuse bin, a 240-litre garden 

bin, a 240-litre recycling bin and a 55-litre recycling box. Storage area capacity must bear relation 

to property size. 

• Container storage areas should be in a position that makes it convenient for the householder to 

wheel them to the kerbside for collection. 

Container collection 

• Householders are required to present their containers at the kerbside on collection day and 

return them to the storage area as soon as possible following collection. 

• The collection vehicles used by Chorley Council are described in Appendix B. New 

developments and their access roads should be designed to accommodate these vehicles and 

allow them to collect containers directly from the kerbside. 

• Chorley Council offers a collection service for the removal of bulky household waste (e.g. fridges, 

furniture, mattresses, etc) from residential properties. Contact the Waste Management Helpline for 

further information. Contact details are in Section 7. 

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5 APARTMENT DEVELOPMENTS 


Guidance for New Developments 

Containers required for storage of waste 

• High density developments such as flats or apartments may be better suited to the provision of 

shared facilities. Communal containers should have designated storage areas that are sensitively 

located and designed. Storage areas should be large enough to house an array of 1100-litre 

refuse bins, 660-litre bins and 240-litre bins. 

• The type and number of containers, and therefore the storage area capacity, must bear relation 

to the size of development. Generally refuse is stored in 1100-litre wheeled bins, and recyclables 

in 1100-litre, 660-litre or 360-litre bins. 

• Developers should note that the types of containers provided by the Council may vary depending 

on the size and nature of the development and the status of the Council’s recycling collections; 

however it is likely that any alternative containers will occupy a similar sized space; for example 3x 

240-litre bins replacing one 660-litre bin if and where appropriate. 

• The simple method for calculating the number of containers required at an apartment 

development is based on the capacity that is provided to housing developments. This comprises: 

- 240-litres refuse capacity per apartment 

- 240-litres recycling capacity per apartment, comprising 45-litres for paper, 140-litres for 

glass/cans/plastic bottles, 55-litres for cardboard. 

• For example a development of 40 apartments would require total refuse capacity of 9600-litres 

per fortnight; this equates to approximately 8 x 1100-litre bins for refuse. Total recycling capacity 

of 9600-litres, comprising 1800-litres paper, 5600-litres glass/cans/plastic bottles, and 2200-litres 

for cardboard; this equates to approximately 7 x 1100-litre bins plus 3 x 660-litre bins 

• See Appendix C for how to calculate the numbers and types of bins required for apartment 

developments. 

• Having calculated the total numbers and types of containers required, the next step is to 

determine the total footprint for the designated bin storage area(s). The dimensions and floorspace 

required for containers can be found in Appendix A. 

• Developers will be required to purchase bins for domestic refuse from the Council via the Waste 

Management department. Contact details in Section 7. 


• The Council offers an alternate weekly collection service for residual waste and recyclable 

materials. Storage areas should be designed to accommodate the containers calculated in 

Appendix C. 

• Where appropriate, an internal access door from the residential part of the development should 

be provided to allow residents internal access to the storage area. This door should be connected 

to the residential area by a lobby, so as to prevent nuisance odours entering the residence. 

• The distance that residents will be required to travel to waste storage areas from their dwelling 

should not exceed 30m, in line with the Building Regulations 2002, Part H. 

• Additional storage area requirements are given in Appendix D. 

• Once residents begin to occupy a new development, management arrangements should be put 

in place for maintenance, repair and cleaning of communal refuse and recycling facilities/bin 

stores. All waste must be stored safely and securely in order to prevent it causing nuisance, 

pollution or harm. 


• Container collection requirements are given in Appendix D. 

Mixed-use developments 

• Requirements for mixed-use developments are given in Appendix D.



Sustainable Design and Construction Guidance Guidance for New Developments 

Waste compaction 

• On-site waste compaction is not an option for residential developments as it presents problems 

for collection. 

Bulky refuse 

• Chorley Council offers a collection service for the removal of bulky refuse (e.g. fridges, furniture, 

mattresses etc) from residential properties. 

• An area must be provided for residents to place items of bulky refuse, on an appointment day 

issued by the Council. The area provided should cover an area of approximately 10m 2 . The area 

does not have to be designated solely for the purpose of bulky refuse collection but must be made 

clear on collection day. 

• Collection can be arranged via the Waste Management Helpline. Contact details are in Section 

7. 

Chutes 

• Chutes should not be included in apartment developments since they can create problems for 

segregating and storing waste for recycling.





6 COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS 

Containers required for storage of waste 

• The volume of waste generated and the number and type of containers that a commercial 

development requires is ultimately dependent on the activity of the occupant. 

• Containers should be provided to maximise the amount of recyclable material that is segregated 

and sent for recycling. 

• The number of containers provided should be maximised in order to reduce the number of 

collections and therefore collection vehicle traffic. 

• Envirowise is a government-funded programme for UK businesses that gives advice on 

commercial waste management. Contact details in Section 7. 


• Storage areas should be within the confines of the development, additional requirements for 

commercial developments are given in Appendix D. 


• Container collection requirements are given in Appendix D. 

Mixed use developments 

• Requirements for mixed-use developments are given in Appendix D. 

Waste compaction 

• On-site waste compaction is an option for commercial developments; however the Council does 

not provide a collection service. Adopting this approach must not discourage occupants from 

segregating their waste for recycling. 

Food waste 

• From the 1st January 2006 developments that generate food waste will have to comply with the 

requirements of the Animal By-Products Regulations 2003. 

• The Regulations place controls on the collection, handling, transport, storage and disposal of 

animal by-products. This may have implications for the design of the building. 

• Further information on The Animal By-Products Regulations 2003 should be sought from DEFRA 

– http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/1482/contents/made 

Tenant contracts 

• Clauses should be written into tenancy contracts to ensure that they commit to segregating and 

sending their waste for recycling. 

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7 CONTACTS 

• Waste Management Section, People and Places Directorate, Chorley Council 

Waste Management Officer – Doug Cridland 

01257 515661 contact@chorley.gov.uk 

• Development Control, Chorley Council 


• Building Control, Chorley Council 


• Veolia Environmental Services Ltd 

01257 261233 (residential) 01772 641710 (commercial) 

• WRAP – waste and recycling advice for businesses and general public 

0808 100 2040 www.wrap.org.uk 

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8 APPENDICES 

A 

Container dimensions 

Container 

1100-litre 

Eurobin 

660-litre 

Eurobin 

360litre 

Wheeled Bin 

240litre 

Wheeled Bin 

120litre 

Wheeled Bin 

Dimensions 

(mm) 

Width 1375 

Depth 990 

Height 1370 

Height 2370 

(open lid) 

Width 1250 

Depth 720 

Height 1330 

Height 2060 

(open lid) 

Width 580 

Depth 880 

Height 1100 

Height 1690 

(open lid) 

Width 740 

Depth 580 

Height 1100 

Height 1750 

(open lid) 

Width 480 

Depth 555 

Height 1100 

Height 1500 

(open lid) 

Floorspace 

Required (mm) 

1575 x 1190 

1450 x 920 

780 x 1080 

940 x 780 

680 x 755 

55litre Box Width 590 

Depth 395 

Height 375 

Height n/a 

(open lid) 

600 x 405 

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B Collection vehicle dimensions 

The figures below are based on the vehicles used by Chorley Council. 

• Sufficient room should be allowed to manoeuvre and load a vehicle of the following dimensions: 

• Length – 14m 

• Width – 2.6m 

• Height – 4m 

• Turning Circle, between kerbs – 17.99m 

• Turning Circle, between walls – 19.39m 

• Fully laden collection vehicles weigh approximately 33 tonnes; service manholes and road 

surfaces should be constructed with this in mind. 

• Overhead service cables, pipes, archways and other potential obstacles must be at least 6 

metres from ground level. 

• If the Council is unable to verify the suitability of a proposal in terms of collection vehicle access, 

accurate technical drawings detailing the proposed route of collection vehicles around the 

development should be included in plans submitted to the Council. 

• It should be noted that refuse containers are picked up from the rear of the waste collection 

vehicles, and recycling containers are picked up from either the rear or the nearside of recycling 

vehicles. This should also be reflected in the proposed routes of the collection vehicles. 

• Collection vehicles should not be required to reverse into the development from a major road, or 

reverse onto a major road when exiting the development. (http://www.highways.gov.uk for the 

definition of a “major road”.) 

C 

Containers required for apartment developments 

In order to calculate the number of containers that will be provided for an apartment development: 

C = N x V 

B 

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Where: 

C = the number of containers required for the waste stream 

N = the number of dwellings 

V = the volume of waste arising per dwelling per fortnight 

B = the capacity of a standard collection container 

Waste Stream V B B* 

Refuse 240 1100 660 

Glass/cans/plastic bottles 140 1100 360 or 240 

Paper 45 660 360 or 240 

Card 55 1100 360 or 240 

[All figures in litres] 

*for smaller developments 

Calculations should be made for each waste stream to determine the required container capacity 

based on the number of dwellings. The number of containers required for each stream can then be 

determined. Developers must then design bin storage area(s) that are sufficient in size to house 

the suite of containers required, based on the dimensions provided in Appendix A. 

D 

Storage areas and container collection for apartment, commercial and mixed-use 

developments 


• Containers should have designated external storage areas that are sensitively located and 

designed. 

• Container storage areas should be in a position that is mutually convenient and easily accessible 

for the occupants and for the collection operatives (see container collection section below). 

• The design of storage areas should allow for easy removal of the containers, over smooth, 

continuous surfaces. 

• Doorways should provide at least 1.5m clearance (including thickness of doors). 

• A walkway at least 1.5m wide should be provided within the store that allows access to each of 

the individual containers and ensures that an individual container can be removed from the store 

without the need to move any other containers. 

• Where there are separate storage areas for refuse and recycling, the recycling store should be 

the easiest to access (e.g. closest, least restricted access etc.) 

• Containers should be located away from windows and ventilators, to avoid any nuisance odours 

entering the premises. 

Container Collection 

• Two options exist for the collection of containers: 

1) Containers are collected directly from the containers store, in line with the points below, or 

2) Containers are collected from an agreed collection point, in line with the points below 

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• It is the responsibility of the occupants/caretaker/management company (or similar) to allow the 

collection crews access to the container stores/collection point on collection day and to ensure that 

access is not restricted, for example by parked cars. 

• Collection crews will generally not be expected to hold keys, codes or electronic fobs in order to 

collect bins. However subject to approval from Chorley Council’s Waste Management section, 

where necessary, arrangements such as these may be made. This must be discussed prior to the 

submission of plans. 

• The collection vehicle shall be able to approach to within a maximum distance of 8m of the bin 

store/agreed collection point. 

• Collection vehicles cannot collect containers that are presented on a slope exceeding 1:12. Also 

the gradient of a slope that containers need to be moved over shall not exceed 1:12. 

• Surfaces that containers need to be moved over shall be of a smooth continuous finish and free 

from steps or other obstacles. Any steps must incorporate a drop-kerb. 

• Following collection, containers should be returned to storage point as promptly as possible. 

There should be clear responsibility for who carries out the task (i.e. management company, 

caretaker, waste contractor etc.) 

Mixed Use Developments 

• In the event of mixed use developments separate stores for refuse and recycling containers 

should be provided for the commercial aspects of a development and the residential aspects. No 

mixing of commercial waste and residential waste is permitted. 

E 

Examples of good and bad practice 

• There are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration when designing refuse 

and recycling storage facilities for flats/apartment, commercial and housing developments to 

ensure efficient collection by the collection vehicles/operatives and as a means of encouraging 

effective use by residents. Adhering to methods of good practice and following guidelines laid out 

in this document will help to achieve both of these. 

• Forward planning with regard to refuse and recycling storage and collection will provide benefits 

to developers, residents and the Council. Developers are able to disguise and screen bin areas 

making developments more attractive to potential buyers, residents are provided with a secure bin 

area for communal/individual use that decreases the risk of contamination and vandalism allowing 

a more effective collection operation. 

• The following scenarios describe some of the problems encountered by the domestic refuse and 

recycling collection service across Chorley. Individual problems are described, and details of how 

such problems could have been avoided are also provided. 

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Flat/Apartment Developments 

Problem 

A storage area does not meet the requirements laid out in section 5. The floor space is insufficient 

for the bins required. A walkway is not provided within the store that allows access to each of the 

individual containers. It is also not possible to remove individual containers without the need to 

move all other containers. 

Solution 

The necessary amount of floor space should be allowed for each receptacle as detailed in 8A and 

a walkway of at least 1.5m wide. Developers should use the table in section 8 in order to calculate 

the containers required for refuse and recyclables and subsequently the appropriate floor space 

required. 

Problem 

A storage area is located in a central courtyard area of the development. To access this area it is 

necessary to manoeuvre bins over a distance greater than 8m through a narrow alleyway. 

Additionally in order for the bins to be taken to the collection vehicle they must be moved over a 

surface that is not smooth or free of steps and other obstacles. Also kerbs that the bins must be 

moved over do not incorporate a drop kerb. 

Solution 

The collection vehicle must be able to approach to within a maximum distance of 8m of the bin 

store/agreed collection point, and wherever possible the actual distance will be less than this 

figure. Where this is not possible a collection point must be proposed and agreed by Chorley 

Council. Proper planning and design can easily avoid steps such as this in the early stages of a 

proposal. Kerbs and steps in new developments must incorporate drop-kerbs. 

Problem 

A development is at the bottom of a steep winding slope. Consequently access to the bins stores 

is inadequate and the room available is not sufficient to allow full manoeuvrability of the collection 

vehicle. Additionally the surface that the containers need to be moved over is not smooth and 

continuous. It is not possible for Chorley Council to move the containers up the slope, greater than 

1:12, over a distance greater than 8m. 

Solution 

The bin stores should be placed at ground level, within 8m of the vehicle access road. If this is not 

possible then the developer needs to be aware that a private arrangement is necessary to present 

the containers to ground level for collection by Chorley Council. Developers must also take into 

consideration the room necessary to manoeuvre the collection vehicles. See section 8B. 

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Problem 

A bin store is very badly designed. It is only large enough to incorporate one bin that is accessed 

by residents through the use of chutes. Additionally there are no drop kerbs and several cars block 

the bin store. 

Solution 

Proper planning and design in the early stages of a proposal will avoid having badly designed bin 

storage areas. Chutes should not be included in flat/apartment developments as they create 

problems for segregating and sorting materials for recycling. It is also the responsibility of the 

caretaker/management company (or similar) to ensure that access to the bin store/collection point 

is not restricted on collection day (e.g. by parked cars.) 

Problem 

Parked cars block a bin store. Additionally, the surface that the containers need to be moved over 

is not smooth and continuous. Bin areas are also located internally without natural ventilation and 

outside access in a secured building. Consequently there is no access for collection vehicles or 

crews and private arrangements are required to be made in association with the management 

company. 

Solution 

Where parking areas are located close to bin stores, it must be ensured that parked vehicles do 

not prevent access to the bin store. The surface that the containers are moved over must be 

smooth and continuous. Storage areas must also have natural ventilation and must be adjacent to 

an external wall where joined to a habitable part of the development. 

Housing Developments 

Problem 

A storage area provided is not a suitable size to accommodate all the necessary refuse and 

recycling containers. Additionally the area is shared by three properties. 

Solution 

All containers required should be accommodated within the boundary of each property. Storage 

areas should also be large enough to house up to, at least, a 240 litre refuse bin, 240 litre garden 

waste bin and 240 litre recycling bin and be sufficient to allow for the storage of additional materials 

that may be collected by Chorley Council in the future (e.g. food waste, batteries etc.) 

14





Commercial Developments 

Problem 

This commercial property has been extended to its boundaries leaving no storage area for the 

necessary refuse/recycling receptacles. Consequently bins are stored on the back street causing 

access problems for collection vehicles and creating litter issues. 

Solution 

Storage areas should be within the confines of the developments. Any external storage areas 

should be sensitively designed and located, and should be in a position which is mutually 

convenient and accessible to the collection crew. 

Problem 

The collections from several commercial properties take place from the rear where access for 

collection vehicles is tight. Parked cars restrict access even further and reduce bin storage areas. 

Solution 

Commercial properties should have designated external storage areas that are sensitively located 

and designed. Additionally it is the responsibility of the caretaker/management company (or 

similar) to allow the collection crews access to the containers stores/collection point on collection 

day and to ensure that access is not restricted, for example by parked cars. 

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Waste storage and collection guidance - Chorley Borough Council

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