Damaged and destroyed public bins have recently been reported in Ryde, Freshwater, Shanklin and Sandown.
The IW Council and Island Roads have raised concerns after inspecting fire-damaged waste bins, urging Islanders and visitors to take greater care when disposing of barbecue waste.
One black bin in Freshwater Bay was left melted and charred, while another bin in Ryde seafront’s Western Gardens was completely burned through, leaving only its scorched metal shell behind.
(Image: IW Council)
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These two incidents, along with others, are believed to have been caused by disposable barbecues discarded while still hot.
“Barbecues are a fun part of summer, but we must use them carefully,” said Natasha Dix, service director for waste, environment and planning at the IW Council.
“We’re asking people to avoid disposable barbecues where possible.
“We strongly advise not to use them in green open spaces, parks or at the beach.”
Damaged bin in Ryde’s Western Gardens (Image: IW Council)
The Island remains extremely dry, increasing the risk that bin fires could spread to surrounding areas such as grassland and property.
The warning comes amid national fire service data revealing over 700 barbecue-related incidents between 2022 and 2024, many involving disposable, single-use grills.
According to Island Roads, improper disposal can also lead to fires in waste collection vehicles and recycling facilities – and can cause injuries from residual heat or sharp edges even after cooling.
Cllr Karen Lucioni, who chairs the council’s environment and community protection committee, urged the public to act responsibly: “Our request is for people to make sure their barbecue is completely cool and then take it home for disposal as part of their domestic waste collection.
“Public litter bins are not designed to take large items, and during peak visitor months, they can quickly overflow.”
Islanders are encouraged to report damaged public litter bins through the FixMyStreet tool on the Island Roads website, via email at info@islandroads.com, or by calling 01983 822440.