The amount spent on replacing wheelie bins across County Durham is predicted to rise in 2024, according to research.

Data collated by Skips and Bins, using Freedom of Information requests, reveals a continuous problem for Durham County Council, with at least 150 bins needing replacement each month.

In 2023, a total of 4,198 bins were replaced, while this year 3,448 replacements have been recorded so far.

The founder of Skips and Bins, Scott Hawthorne, commented on the situation.

He said: "The amount of wheelie bin replacements that occurred throughout last year and this year so far indicate a serious issue.

"We are seeing endless headlines of wheelie bin theft and arson attacks involving wheelie bins, which is difficult to enforce.

"But councils need to be encouraging residents to take necessary precautions to secure their wheelie bins as in the end it will affect taxes."

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The month with the most replacements was November 2023. Each replacement costs the council and residents £25.

Data shows a predicted total of 4,354 replacements for 2024, surpassing the figure for 2023.

This will amount to a total cost of £108,850, a rise from the £104,825 spent on replacements in 2023.

James Lee, Durham County Council’s refuse and recycling manager, said: "There are more than 250,000 households across County Durham, with each having up to three bins and a recycling box.

"While some bins can go missing or suffer deliberate damage, it can help to clearly label each bin and bring them in as early as possible after a waste collection.

"Bins can also become damaged because of overfilling, so we’d encourage people not to place too much waste or overly heavy objects in each bin."

Mr Lee also urged citizens to report any damaged bins, as the council may be able to repair these free of charge, thus reducing the need for replacements.

The council continues to tackle the issue with these preventive measures in place.