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Grundon Waste Management has partnered with Crisis, the national charity for people experiencing homelessness, to launch The Risks of Sleeping in Bins.
The new 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.
Reg Hodson, Grundon’s Head of SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environment & Quality), said: “We are asking facilities managers and their teams to carry out regular checks on waste containers in or around their premises and to make sure the area is secure and well-lit. Share information with 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.”
Grundon driver Dave Goodwin is pictured right alongside Reg Hodson, Grundon’s Head of SHEQ
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, Goodwin, who is based at Grundon’s Banbury depot in Oxfordshire, 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.”
Footage of the actual incident appears on the campaign website, Hodson added: “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.
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.”
Since 2021, rough sleeping in England has increased by 91 per cent 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.
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.
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.
Wednesday 14 January at 11:00am
Building Management Systems (BMS) have long been used to control the heart of a building – monitoring and controlling its essential systems such as lighting, ventilation, heating and air conditioning. Facilities Managers want the best visibility to help detect and deal with concerns before they become issues.
This webinar brings together the experts from energy network provider, E.ON along with FM thought leaders to discuss moving from a reactive service to a proactive service. By identifying energy issues early and automatically, instead of occupants reporting issues, then potential faults can be identified early and remedied. The BMS does this before the problem occurs by using smart alerting and EMC support services.
Panel:
- Sara Bean: Editor FMJ (Facilities Management Journal)
- Nick Westlake: Energy and Service Delivery Manager at E.ON Control Solutions
- Sunil Shah, the author of IWFM’s Energy Management Good Practice Guide and MD of Acclaro Advisory
- David Cermak, Regional Facilities Manager for David Lloyd Clubs
To register for the webinar which will be taking place on 14 January 2026 at 11:00am click here.
