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This thread is for discussing all aspects relating to the durability of the bins. What is the typical life-expectancy? What are the signs that a bin is getting close to needing replacement? Do certain parts need routine replacement? What causes damage? Etc. Etc. Please realise that only a very small percentage of bins experience the problems seen below.
A visit to a bin graveyard is quite useful to carry out autopsies.    The lids are normally held to the body of the bins with a short plastic hinge pin which is a separate part and is clipped in. Some bins have 4 hinge pins, others only 2 - there seems to be more problems when there are less hinge pins. A badly constructed lifter can cause this type of damage. It happens more often if the lid is open during the lift and "shake", and the lid gets jammed in the top of the lifter, preventing the bin from coming down. It can also be caused by the compactor blade cycling against the lid. Low-level lifters are prone to this problem. There is a temptation, especially by industrial establishments, to lift their bins by crane or forklift and the handle is often the most convenient attachment point. Axle and wheel problems:    The only criteria that bin manufacturers seem to use when defining the quality of their bins, is to state that they have "solid" axles as opposed to pipe. Nothing is said about the corrossion protection, and it would seem that the wheels rust fast to the axles. The axle then turns in the main body of the bin, on a narrow contact area, and this can wear right through the axle (as per left picture). Corrosion protection (even grease?) should cure this. The bent axle in the right side picture is obviously due to severe abuse. A more rigid axle axle will increase the stress on the bin during the abuse - it is cheaper to replace the axle than the large body of the bin. No lifter is known to cause axle problems. Damaged comb receivers:   Vertical cracks:    Collisions:    Rat escape: 
This is a group of bins in Hermanus with lid problems. It is not clear what caused the damage in this case:    Hermanus has a baboon problem, but I doubt that they caused this damage.
These are 660 liter 4-wheel bins in Hermanus where the wheels have been repositioned (probably not by the bin manufacturer). The pictures illustrate the stresses that the wheels of 4-wheel bins experience:  The major problem is getting the bin up and down the high South African pavements (kerbs/sidewalks). Although not clearly visible in this picture, the drop down into the gutter is normally about 15 - 20 cm, the same as the wheel diameter. Unfortunately, our operators seem to believe that the wheels will climb the pavement if they push the bin fast enough:  When the vehile's lifter is lowering the bin to the road, the pair of back wheels take the full impact. Here the back wheel is on left, and it can be seen that it has been forced up:  |
