That's a great question! Dealing with cracked trash cans in the city after a cold snap is so frustrating. The good news is, preventing it is pretty straightforward with a little prep. The main enemy is the plastic becoming brittle in freezing temps, especially when the bin is full and heavy. Here’s what you can do:
First, give your cans a good clean before the deep cold hits. Residual gunk and moisture can freeze and expand in seams and micro-cracks, making them worse. A simple hose-down and scrub with mild soap does the trick.
Location matters. If you have any space in a garage, basement, or even a sheltered alley corner, move the bins there. Simply getting them out of the direct wind and slightly milder temperatures makes a huge difference. If they must stay outside, try to group them together or place them against a building wall for a bit of thermal mass and windbreak.
Next, think about insulation. You don't need anything fancy. An old moving blanket or a piece of rigid foam insulation board placed underneath the bin creates a barrier from the frozen ground. For extra protection, you can loosely wrap the lower half of the can with a tarp or bubble wrap – just ensure it doesn't interfere with the lid.
Be mindful of what you toss in. Avoid putting scorching-hot ashes or boiling liquids directly into the bin in winter. The extreme temperature shock can instantly weaken the plastic. Let those items cool completely first.
Finally, handle with care. Frozen plastic is inflexible. Try not to drag a full bin across rough pavement, as a sudden impact is more likely to cause a split. If it's very heavy, see if you can get a helping hand to lift it.
A little effort this fall will save you from a messy, broken bin come spring!