Bin & container guide
Choose the right commercial waste container.
A visual guide to the containers UK businesses use every day. Sizes, typical bag counts and common use cases, so you can size your service before you buy.
Container renders are indicative. Dimensions are approximate and vary by supplier and manufacturer.
Containers
From a single sack to a 35 yard RoRo.
Pick the closest match for your site. If you're between sizes, oper8 will help you right-size when you get a quote.
Standard large commercial
1100L wheelie bin
The workhorse container for busy sites and multi-tenant buildings. Four-wheeled, lifted by a standard trade waste vehicle.
Waste types
- Capacity
- ≈ 14 to 16 standard bin bags
- Dimensions
- ≈ 1370 × 1470 × 1075 mm (approximate)
- Best for
- Offices, hotels, larger retail, mixed-use estates.
Four-wheel commercial
660L wheelie bin
Higher-volume sites where a 1100L will not fit through access gates.
Waste types
- Capacity
- ≈ 10 to 12 standard bin bags
- Dimensions
- ≈ 1210 × 1370 × 780 mm (approximate)
- Best for
- Multi-unit buildings and mid-size hospitality venues.
Mid-size two-wheel
360L wheelie bin
Slightly higher volume than a 240L without needing a four-wheel bin.
Waste types
- Capacity
- ≈ 6 to 7 standard bin bags
- Dimensions
- ≈ 1100 × 620 × 890 mm (approximate)
- Best for
- Cafés, small restaurants and busier retail units.
Most common small bin
240L wheelie bin
The default UK commercial two-wheeler. Suits every stream — including heavier ones like glass and food.
- Capacity
- ≈ 4 to 5 standard bin bags
- Dimensions
- ≈ 1080 × 580 × 740 mm (approximate)
- Best for
- Offices, retail, hospitality back-of-house, food waste, glass.
Small container
120L wheelie bin
Small businesses, cafés, single-desk offices or low-volume streams.
Waste types
- Capacity
- ≈ 2 to 3 standard bin bags
- Dimensions
- ≈ 940 × 480 × 550 mm (approximate)
- Best for
- Micro-sites and top-up recycling containers.
Bag collections
Commercial waste sacks
Where there is no space or access for a wheelie bin.
Waste types
- Capacity
- ≈ 70 L per sack
- Dimensions
- Sack sizes vary by supplier and stream
- Best for
- High-street retail and small central-London units with no bin storage.
Bulk commercial container
Front-end loader (FEL)
High-volume bulk container lifted from the front by a dedicated FEL vehicle. Sits in place of multiple 1100L bins on busy sites.
Waste types
- Capacity
- ≈ 4 to 8 cubic yards
- Dimensions
- Requires suitable vehicle access and hardstanding
- Best for
- Large hotels, shopping centres, distribution hubs, event venues.
Bulk commercial container
Rear-end loader (REL)
Enclosed bulk container tipped from the rear by a specialised REL vehicle. A step up from 1100L bins where an FEL isn't practical.
Waste types
- Capacity
- ≈ 8 to 12 cubic yards
- Dimensions
- Requires suitable vehicle access and hardstanding
- Best for
- Larger commercial sites, campuses and mixed-use estates.
Open project container
Builders' skip
Open-top skip delivered and collected by a skip-loader vehicle. Suited to short-term project waste.
Waste types
- Capacity
- ≈ 4, 6, 8 or 12 cubic yards
- Dimensions
- Requires suitable vehicle access; permit may be required on public roads
- Best for
- Fit-outs, refurbishments, clearances and small site works.
Project container
20 yard roll-on roll-off
Medium-to-large project waste collected by a hook-loader vehicle.
Waste types
- Capacity
- ≈ 20 cubic yards
- Dimensions
- Requires suitable vehicle access and hardstanding
- Best for
- Strip-outs, refurbishments, ongoing site works.
Large project container
35 yard roll-on roll-off
High-volume project or industrial waste over multiple weeks.
Waste types
- Capacity
- ≈ 35 cubic yards
- Dimensions
- Requires suitable vehicle access and hardstanding
- Best for
- Large refurbs, demolition, ongoing industrial operations.
Common questions
Sizing, streams and mixed sites.
Capacities and bag counts are approximate industry norms. Actual capacity depends on waste density and how the container is loaded.
Not sure yet?
We'll help you size and price it.
Send us a rough idea of your site and streams. oper8 comes back with a right-sized, transparently priced service — no sales calls.