What Is The Average Bin Man Salary In The UK?

The Average Bin Man Salary

The average UK wage of a bin man (same as a garbage man or a garbage collector) in the UK in 2025 might be subject to the geographical position and the experience, and the company. The middle compensation of the annual employee will be £14,600 and £18,500, and the hourly wages will be £13.37 and £14.89, respectively. Wages are, however, generally higher in this country, at least in London and the southeast, the bin men earning here between £22,000 and £250,000 a year. The specific compensation is also affected by seniority, experience, and the reputation of the working time in a local government or a corporation. A bin man in the UK earns between 14 and 15 pounds an hour, but it also depends on the employment and circumstances of a certain area.

What is a bin man called in the UK?​

The United Kingdom refers to such a worker as a garbage collector, a rubbish collector, or a dustman, but also sometimes as a bin collector or bin man. These terms are used to refer to the individuals who get employed to collect, dispose of, and recycle waste from homes or businesses. Although the more formal names “waste collector” or “refuse collector” are widely used in official terms and job adverts, “dustman” is a traditional British term. The bin fellows are those who collect trash bins at homes, business places, and public places. Often, they also drive a fully equipped waste-collecting and compacting vehicle. 

A bin man can also be referred to as a refuse collector or a waste management worker. Bin men’s salaries in the United Kingdom may vary due to a number of reasons, including location, experience, and the employer. The NCS found out that the average payment received by the UK refuse collector is approximately £16,000.

It may rise to £23,000 a year with increased experience, greater responsibility, or in a bigger company. One should realize that these numbers are mere estimates and may change depending on the job and the location. Moreover, individual members of the waste management workers might also get other benefits like a pension plan, medical cover, or overtime allowances.

Bin man wage UK

  • The rough job rates of standard wages include 14,000 and 18,500 pounds per annum and 13.37 and 14.50 pounds per hour, which are the wages that a rubbish collector or a refuse collector in the UK will be earning in 2025. It has professionally trained individuals, so the salaries are equivalent to 25000 or even more per annum, but in the more highly paid regions, such as in London and the Southeast region, the entry-level jobs tend to lie in the range of £16000 or £17000 per year.
  • They include some of the following information:
  • The average wage per hour in England can span between 13.37 and 14.22 pounds per hour, and this difference varies subjectively to the venture and the location.
  • The average annual wages of all parts of the country are approximately 18,500 pounds. The highest wages have been recorded in the more senior or specialized occupations, including the garbage collectors and drivers, and in this system, they could manage between £26,000 and £29,000.

The average bin man’s salary in the UK in 2025

The salary of anyone working as a refuse collector or weighing around 53 kg at least 8 hours a day, commonly known as a bin man in the United Kingdom, can range between £82.40 and £234.68. A bin man in the United Kingdom would usually receive an average yearly salary of between £14,000 and £18,500, with the hourly wage being approximately between £13.37 and £14.89. A proficient bin man is likely to earn 25,000 or a bit over annually, especially in richer regions such as London and the Southeast, whilst a newly appointed bin man will tend to earn 14,000-16,000 a year. One has to understand that various local bodies would pay more or less as opposed to others. Besides that, it varies depending on the region and job requirements.

What is the median salary for a bin man in the UK?

In the UK, a bin guy earns around 18000 to 25000 per annum. The cost of living is higher in some locations, and there is a high incidence of labor, hence paying more to get labor. Nevertheless, they may be inferior to others. Moreover, a certain employer might offer their employees additional benefits or rewards, and this may influence the overall remuneration package.

How much do the UK bin men earn at the highest?

The average salary rate of a bin man on job postings and industry reports is about 28,336 pounds to 25,416 pounds a year. Nonetheless, there are those workers who already have a lot of experience or those in supervisory or managerial jobs who may receive up to £35,000 or even higher every year. The salary level between bin men in the UK is generally stable in most parts of the UK and in different cities. Also, the pay structure and benefits package designed by the employer in terms of bonuses, overtime pay, and pension contributions may affect salaries given to workers.

How to become a bin man in the UK?

To work as a bin man (or bin collector) in the UK, you must satisfy some requirements and go through some steps. These are some general rules:

1. See what is required

The bin men may have various requirements in different local councils. Nevertheless, physical fitness, good communication, and possession of a valid driving license in the UK are some of the requirements that could be common. Look at the job description or call the concerned council to ascertain what the particular requirements are.

2. Find vacancies

Job vacancies for bin men can be found on job search websites, on council websites, or in local newspapers. Or you may approach your local council and ask about the job opportunities.

3. Make a job application

After identifying a job opening, you will have to make an application. This can take the form of completing a linked online application form, sending through your CV and cover letter, or attending an assessment center.

4. Go to an interview

In case your application succeeds, you will be called for an interview. Either the interview would be via telephone or face-to-face. It may involve a query on experience, ability, and suitability for the job.

5. Complete training

Should you be called to work, you have to undergo training before you can begin to work. This can be in the form of either on-the-job training or a training course.

How long does a bin man work?

A bin man will normally work a few hours per day, normally early morning. Their working hours may differ according to the type of job and the place of work. The overall work of bin men can last 5-8 hours per day; however, it is possible that employees can work more hours. Their working environment, in most cases, exposes them to extreme working conditions, be it is hot or rainy weather. Furthermore, they are required to move heavy loads; hence, the employment could be physically demanding. One must understand that the job of a bin man is imperative in clean and healthy societies. This is why their work is highly valued.

By 2025, an average trash man (refuse collector) will be earning over 25,000 per annum in the UK; that is, about 12.41 pounds each hour, or 2,093 pounds each month. The earnings of a bin man can be differentiated by both experience and location, with the majority falling between £24,900 and £25,400 in annual payment. 

The national median income is nearly the amount of 25000, though income is more often observed in such tourist attractions as London, South Ockendon (Essex), and Romford (Greater London). Though the bin men might earn a little more in some of the regions, like Manchester, where they claim annual averages to be about £31,500 and £15 per hour, a good average would still be £25,000 across most of the UK.

Bin man uniform UK

A bin man’s attire typically includes high-visibility (hi-vis) clothing to reduce the risk of the employees being invisible to machinery and drivers of cars in the UK, to ensure their visibility. This comprises:

  • Reflective strips on hi-vis jackets, vests, or shirts used as a safety measure based on national safety regulations (commonly ANSI 107 or equivalent) are bright neon colors such as orange or yellow.
  • To be seen and safe, make them put on bib dungarees or hi-vis pants, often weather-resistant or waterproof.
  • Have steel-toe boots (examples of safety shoes) to protect against sharp or heavy objects.
  • Hand gloves.
  • Other weather-specific clothing, including waterproof and insulating jackets, depends on the situation.
  • To avoid sunburn, employees must wear UPF protective long sleeves when working outdoors.

What does a bin man do in the UK?

As a team, they help the driver by steering the car and doing all the required inspections, which include keeping it clean and reporting any problems like missing trash cans or trouble getting in. The personal protective equipment (PPE) has to be worn by the bin guys, who have to follow the health and safety standards and speak to the general population courteously. Their work is also mostly left to be outdoors under different weather; it involves physical endurance, i.e., long hours of walking and handling large or bulk quantities of debris, among others. They can also work extra time when required and carry out emergency duties such as gritting or snow clearing.

What sort of waste are UK refuse collectors normally dealing with daily?

Each refuse collector in the UK normally encounters a myriad of waste substances, including:

General waste comprises all the non-recyclable plastics, packaging, food waste, non-hazardous cleaning products, non-recyclable household or business waste, and so on. Usually, this is gathered and disposed of in a landfill or the incinerator in wheelie bins or the black rubbish bag.

  • Paper, cardboard, plastics, aluminum, and cartons are examples of dry mixed recycling materials that are kept apart and shipped to recycling treatment plants.
  • Food waste: Gathered independently and converted via anaerobic digestion into fertilizer and biodiesel. Biodegradable bags that are transparent are used to bag this garbage.
  • Glass waste: Recycling and cleaning of jars and bottles that are not put in any plastic bags and are recycled separately.
  • An on-site facility where papers are shredded and then reused as recycled material is defined as confidential waste.
  • Clinical and hazardous waste: Here we have infectious trash, e.g.,. Used bandages, which are sharp objects, are handled using special containment and must be disposed of through burning or irradiation.
  • Additional municipal garbage includes household and comparable wastes, residues from sorting, biological and medical wastes, and leftover waste after recycling procedures.

Beth Malcolm

Beth Malcolm is Scottish based Journalist at Heriot-Watt University studying French and British Sign Language. She is originally from the north west of England but is living in Edinburgh to complete her studies.