Grundon has teamed up with Crisis, the national charity for people experiencing homelessness, to raise awareness of the dangers people face if they are forced to seek shelter in waste bins.
Entitled The Risks of Sleeping in Bins, the campaign provides advice for people who may seek shelter from the cold or protect themselves from danger by sleeping in a bin. It also offers guidance for businesses and the wider public on how to recognise the telltale signs that someone may have taken refuge inside a waste bin.
The campaign was born out of an incident in December 2024, when Grundon driver Dave Goodwin realised a bin he was due to collect was particularly heavy. On investigating further, he discovered a person sleeping inside and was able to ensure the individual could get out safely.
Recalling the experience, Dave, who is based at Grundon’s Banbury depot and has worked for the company for two years, said: “As drivers, we are always trained to be alert to anything unusual and it was one of those split second moments when you realise something isn’t right. I immediately stepped back from the bin and was hugely relieved to find that although the gentleman inside was a bit shaken up, he was unharmed.
“He told me that previously, he would listen out for the sound of a diesel engine as a warning of a vehicle approaching. Because I was in an electric vehicle, which is much quieter, he didn’t hear it approach.”
Dave Goodwin
LGV Driver
Reg Hodson, Head of SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environment & Quality), said: “Thankfully, due to Dave’s professionalism and care no harm was done but hearing his story and seeing this video made us realise that, as our industry moves to quieter electric waste collection vehicles, we all need to be more vigilant to help reduce the chances of such an incident happening again.
“That’s why, supported by Crisis, we’ve launched this campaign to help get that message out to as many people as possible.”
The campaign, which includes the launch of brightly-coloured warning stickers stating WARNING. Risk to Life. Do not use this bin for sleeping is aimed at people sleeping rough, as well as businesses and the wider public. Typical signs that someone may be taking refuge inside a bin will include broken locks, rubbish scattered on the ground, evidence of personal belongings nearby, and items such as pallets stacked up to allow someone to climb inside the container. Reg adds:
“We are asking anyone who has waste containers in or around their premises to carry out regular checks and to make sure the area is secure and well-lit. Talk to your staff so they know the signs to look out for and, if possible, display warning signs on and around the bins themselves. By taking a few minutes this winter, everyone can play their part in keeping people safe.”
Reg Hodson
Head of SHEQ
Francesca Albanese, Director of Policy and Social Change at Crisis said: “We are tragically seeing more and more people forced to sleep on our streets. Faced with danger and uncertainty, people can seek shelter from the cold and to keep themselves hidden from view for their own safety.
“We are pleased to be able to work with Grundon on this campaign, which we hope will keep more people safe from harm. Alongside these important partnerships, we need more support from the national government to help people off the streets and out of homelessness because no one should have to face the trauma and indignity of sleeping rough. This includes building more social homes as quickly as possible, and making sure that homelessness prevention services are properly funded.”
If someone is concerned about an individual who may be sleeping in or around a bin, the campaign recommends contacting Streetlink, a platform that connects people rough sleeping in England and Wales to support provided by local authorities and charities. Streetlink will then send an alert to the local authority or outreach service in the area.
Since 2021, rough sleeping in England has increased by 91% and Crisis reports that over 300,000 families and individuals across Great Britain are now experiencing the worst forms of homelessness. That includes rough sleeping, sofa surfing and sleeping in cars and sheds.
Grundon has an ongoing partnership with Crisis, providing free delivery and collection of clinical waste bins to Crisis centres as part of the charity’s annual Crisis at Christmas appeal.