| Most of us have one and probably have done for | | | | access to a rubbish receptacle which was emptied by |
| most of our lives but very few of us give the humble | | | | state funded binmen. Dustbins were introduced by |
| dustbin much thought. But in fact the dustbin has gone | | | | many councils. These rubbish bins were large metal |
| through dramatic changes which have coincided with | | | | containers and didn't change on shape or design for |
| changes that our society has been through over the | | | | decades. |
| last hundred years of so. | | | | In fact it wasn't until the latter part of the twentieth |
| Whether you call it a dustbins, rubbish bin, garbage can | | | | century when concerns about land-fill space and the |
| or wheelie bin, the changes to our main refuse | | | | need to recycle some of our waste become apparent |
| collection bin have been dramatic and represent the | | | | did the style and shape of dustbins change. |
| changing way we live our lives. | | | | Along with the introduction of bottle banks, large plastic |
| Dustbins have only been around since the last 150 | | | | dustbins were introduced in many parts of the country |
| years or so. Before that time there was little need for | | | | as a cheaper method of producing bins compare to |
| dustbins or waste bins as most waste people | | | | the heavy metal trash can. However, the need for |
| discarded were ash (from fires), wood, bones, body | | | | recycling increased and goner too are these old style |
| waste and vegetable matter which | | | | bins and most people in England and Wales were |
| more-often-than-not was just burned in the fireplace. | | | | given wheelie bins. Wheelie bins not only make the job |
| However, when the industrial revolution happened and | | | | of collecting rubbish easier, different coloured bins have |
| more and consumable items were being purchased | | | | been introduced to encourage recycling. Many areas |
| and a an increase in plastics an other materials were | | | | of the country now have two or tree wheelie bins. |
| being used. The need to keep our towns and cities | | | | One is a conventional household rubbish bin the others |
| clean became apparent. | | | | are recycling bins for garden waste or recyclable |
| The 1848 Public Health Act as the first time that a | | | | materials. |
| government decided that each household should have | | | | |