ANSI Z245.30-2018: Waste Containers Safety Requirements
The world generates over 2 billion tons of municipal solid waste annually, and this is expected to increase 70% by 2050. This surge in waste generation will significantly intensify the demands placed on waste handling infrastructure. As volumes grow, so does the frequency of container use, collection cycles, and mechanical lifting operations. ANSI Z245.30-2018: Waste Containers – Safety Requirements is the American National Standard for waste container safety.
Why Waste Container Safety Matters
Waste containers (trash cans, garbage cans, waste bins, refuse bins, etc.,) are used at every stage of waste handling—storage, collection, transportation, and disposal—to maintain hygiene, prevent environmental contamination, and assure safety. Because of their ubiquity, even small design flaws can scale into widespread hazards. Common risks associated with unsafe or non-compliant refuse/trash bins include:
- Tip-over incidents due to poor stability or uneven loading
- Mechanical failure during lifting or dumping
- Pinch points and crush hazards when interfacing with trucks
- Ergonomic strain from improper handling or excessive weight
Even industry experts note that containers are often “taken for granted” despite their potential safety risks, emphasizing the importance of adhering to standards like ANSI Z245.30-2018.
What Is ANSI Z245.30-2018?
ANSI Z245.30-2018 establishes safety requirements with respect to the manufacture, reconstruction, use, modification, maintenance, service, operation, and installation (where applicable) of containers, and two-wheeled carts. It helps assure that waste bins are not only durable, but also safe to handle, lift, and interact with across different equipment systems.
Scope of ANSI Z245.30-2018
This American National Standard is applicable to all persons engaged in the manufacture, modification, operation, use cleaning, maintenance, service or repair of containers and cart lifters which are used in conjunction with the collection, processing and disposal (including the diversion of wastes for recycling) of municipal, commercial and industrial solid wastes by private companies and public entities. Trash containers may vary widely as to size, design and other characteristics.
This standard does not apply to containers intended for use by householders for their individual use that are not to be handled by mechanical container lifting and dumping mechanisms.
ANSI Z245.30-2018 complements ANSI Z245.60, which details the dimensions of waste containers to assist in the compatibility of waste containers and the vehicles employed in the collection and lifting operations associated with specific containers.
ANSI Z245.30-2018: Improving Refuse Bins Safety in a High-Risk Industry
Based on data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in early 2026 regarding 2024–2025 trends, the waste management and remediation services industry remains one of the most dangerous, and in fact this industry sector remains among the top five deadliest in the U.S.
Furthermore, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reported the waste management and remediation services industry had a fatality rate of 20.3 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, which is over 5 times the fatality rate for all industries. This highlights the risks tied to routine collection activities. As waste volumes rise, the number of interactions between workers, containers, and collection vehicles will also increase, thereby amplifying the potential for incidents if equipment is not properly designed and standardized.
ANSI Z245.30-2018 directly addresses this challenge by assuring that trash containers are engineered for safe compatibility, stability, and mechanical handling, helping to reduce failures and injuries at scale.
Where to Find ANSI Z245.30-2018
ANSI Z245.30-2018: Waste Containers – Safety Requirements is available on the ANSI Webstore.
ANSI Z245.30-2018 was developed by the National Waste & Recycling Association (NW&RA).
Please direct any technical questions relating to this American National Standard to the developer. You can find the contact information for all ANSI-accredited standards developers here: List of ANSI-Accredited Standards Developers (ASDs).
For further information, please refer to: Who to Contact for Standards Related Questions.
