S&MC Homeware 50 Litre Pedal Bin

This bin has only just arrived and these are initial impressions. If something changes, then the overall rating will decline.We're using it to protect bird and wildlife feeds from the sort of wildlife we don't want, rats and mice! We've stored such feeds in a utility room in the house but it would be better stored out close to where it is needed, and we'd get some precious space back. We're rural.The positives - it is definitely rodent-proof at the bottom end, the trick being to ensure that the lid is always battened down properly by the pivoting side handles. More about those later. The capacity is okay for our purposes, although with hindsight I might have chosen either a bin with more capacity or opted to get a second one of these. Suffice to say that a 20kg sack of bird seed will take up most of the space in one of these, if you just put the sack into the bin as we do (we were hoping to store three types of feed, bagged, in here but can only manage two). It's a positive in the sense that we can store bulky feeds in here and still have it portable. We might change our "system" of containers to make better use of this bin (just seed in here, and mealworms, peanuts, nyjer seed etc in smaller containers).The selling point for this bin is really the ability to lock down the lid using side "handles", and the news here is less positive.If the bin is loaded up then these lid-retaining "handles" will in no way be strong enough to carry the thing around, you will have to use the other side grips, but these aren't very well designed. The side grips are open at the top and closed underneath, meaning that you can't hook your fingers under them when carrying the bin around. Worse, if you're leaving this outdoors (as we'll be doing) then you will get debris and water in these side grips because there's no way water can drain out of them short of drilling a few small holes in them and therefore potentially weakening them as a result.So why five stars? Because we intend for this to stay in a fixed position the side grips are less of an issue for us, and it'll be the longevity of the handles that govern how good this bin will be. For now, it is okay. We had a bit of a struggle getting one handle to engage over the lid, which is never good. If something only works when it is under strain, it has to be able to stand up to that constant strain, and the problems of unlocking and locking it back over the lid.While I doubt that rodents will get in I'm a lot less sure about the handles, and if that part fails then the rodents will find their way in shortly afterwards. Five stars - for now!

It's OK, but I can tell the handles aren't going to last. They're quite flimsy, but they do lock securely.It's definitely rodent proof, I've seen a rat on CCTV sniffing around it and climbing on it but not able to get into it.Also waterproof - had several heavy rain showers but it's dry inside.I have just ordered two more so I'm happy enough with it.If it just had metal handles I would give it 5 stars.

its just a bin, the foot pedal lifts the lid, and you dispose rubbish into a bin liner that you already placed, easy to clean, wash out, do not need luxury bins when just disposing of food wastes etc , would happily buy again

One of the handles does not stay on when trying to lock it but otherwise it's great for what I needed to for . Its sturdy and was just the right size

Bird seed storage, no it would not stop a rat but our brick shed is quite sound (and the cat catches them) but it is a well priced thing to keep stuff in or even as a bin (may get another just for that)!The top can be locked if needed and it holds a good amount, all in all I am very happy with it.

Had these bins for almost a year now, and finally a rodent has chewed its way in. They kept popping the lid off because the clips are flimsy, so I put something heavy on the lid and they chewed a hole right through it.

The bin is exactly what I require. It will be used for storing road grit for the drive. Just in case I will insert a strong plastic bag to hold the grit.A lockable lid will help to keep it dry.

Handels are little small keep falling off when trying to lock them easy to reattach but hard to lock in place everything else was find not holes or strong smells to smells leaking through