Front-Lift vs Rear-Lift Bins: Which Is Best for Your Site?

Choosing the wrong bin type is an easy way to overpay or block your driveway. Here's how to pick between rear-lift wheelie bins and front-lift steel bins.

Rear-lift bins (wheelie bins: 240L, 360L, 660L, 1100L)

• Best for: Cafes, offices, small retail, tight laneways, shared bin rooms.
• Access: Fits standard doors and lifts; works in basements where headroom is limited.
• Frequency: Flexible-daily to fortnightly. Good for variable volumes.
• Costs: Higher per-litre than front-lift, but cheaper for small volumes and constrained sites.

Front-lift bins (1.5m^3, 3.0m^3, 4.5m^3 steel)

• Best for: Warehouses, shopping centres, industrial estates, large venues.
• Access: Needs truck clearance and drive-up access. Not suited to tight basements.
• Frequency: Fewer lifts per week due to larger capacity.
• Costs: Lower per-litre; ideal when you consistently fill larger volumes.

How to decide in 90 seconds

• Tight access, under-cover, mixed-tenancy bin rooms? Rear-lift.
• Dock access, clear driveways, predictable high volumes? Front-lift.
• Short-term projects or fitouts? Consider a skip, then move to front-lift if ongoing.
• Cardboard-heavy sites (retail/warehouses)? Front-lift or baler; avoid rear-lift overflows.

Contamination and fees to watch

• Keep liquids out of commingled rear-lift bins to avoid rejection fees.
• For front-lift, ensure lids close flat; overflowing loads can be charged as a double lift.
• Lock bins in mixed-use sites to prevent illegal dumping.

Internal linking to get help fast

• Check bin sizes on our services page or jump to cardboard recycling.
• For hospitality, see our restaurant bins guide.
• Multi-site? Request a single contract via Contact and we'll align Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane schedules.

Pick the bin type that matches your access and volume, then adjust frequency after two weeks of data. Need a sanity check? Send bin bay photos and your current pickups-we'll give you a clear recommendation within one business day.