Efficient and safe waste compacting

An innovative British invention coming to the market

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The Problem

 

  • Household inefficiency: Wheelie bins and waste receptacles fill up quickly, often poorly packed due to access constraints and lack of compaction tools.

  • Health & safety risks: Householders attempt manual compaction, leading to injuries from sharps, contamination, chemical burns, and falls.

  • Collection policy pressures: National and local authorities (CIWM, LARAC, LGA, ADEPT, NAWDO, WRAP) are advocating reduced collection frequencies (3–4 weekly), further straining bin capacity.

  • Knock-on effects of reduced collections:

    • Overflowing bins → pests, maggots, smells, environmental hazards.

    • Increased trips to Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) → time, congestion, CO₂ emissions.

  • Operational inefficiency: Refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) return to depots with ~26% spare capacity (Chichester example), indicating poor system optimisation.

  • Regulatory context: From 31 March 2025, Simpler Recycling mandates separate bins for food, glass, general waste, paper, and mixed recyclables → further strain on household space and capacity.

  • Demographic pressures: England’s population (ONS):

    • 56m in 2021 → 70m by 2026 → 73m+ by 2036.

    • Rising population will significantly increase per-household and per-collection waste volumes.

The Solution

A Safer, Smarter Way to Compact Waste

The Basharama is a patented invention (UK, Europe, USA, Canada, Australia) designed as a vertical hammer for safe, hygienic waste compaction in household bins, specifically wheelie bins.

By compacting refuse efficiently in a confined space, the Basharama:

  • Eliminates unsafe methods of manual compaction, reducing direct contact with dangerous and unsanitary waste.

  • Lowers the risk of injury and associated hospitalisations, offering measurable cost savings to the NHS and potentially saving lives.

Proven Household Impact

Household trials demonstrated a capacity increase of up to 32% (77L), enabling bins to hold more waste without spillage or overflow.

Environmental Impact Reduction

  1. Lower overflow waste → less pest activity, fewer maggots, and reduced public health risks.

  2. Less car travel to HWRCs → CO₂ savings.

  3. Improved recycling compliance with multiple bins under Simpler Recycling.

Wider System Benefits

  • Improved RCV Efficiency – Increased waste density utilises spare vehicle capacity (up to 26% in trials, Chichester), reducing labour, transport costs, and CO₂ emissions.

  • Reduced HWRC Journeys – Greater bin capacity means fewer household trips to recycling centres, saving residents time, money, and contributing to lower congestion and emissions.

  • Supports Simpler Recycling Reforms – An integral tool for local authorities in transitioning to the UK Government’s reforms, addressing Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) by supporting less able-bodied residents and reducing complaints.

Sustainable by Design

  • Injection-moulded for international scalability

  • Manufactured from recycled plastic

  • Fully recyclable at end of life

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

The Challenge

  • The UK spends £1.1 billion annually on waste management (418 Local Authorities: £852m, 215 NHS Trusts: £137m).

  • The 2021 Environment Act mandates the separate recycling of all recyclables, creating:

    • More bins and receptacles

    • Smaller residual waste containers

    • Food waste collection

    • Less frequent collections

  • Result: overproduction of waste and under-capacity of bins, forcing households into frequent trips to HWRCs (Household Waste Recycling Centres), adding congestion, transport costs, and CO₂ emissions.

The Solution – Basharama

  • The only handheld waste compaction method on the market.

  • Compaction efficiencies:

    • Reduce HWRC trips

    • Ease congestion

    • Lower transport costs

    • Cut CO₂ footprint

  • Integral tool in the circular economy, aligning with evolving legislation and sustainability goals.

Intellectual Property

  • Patents & IP rights secured in 53 countries, covering Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, and UK.

  • Patent portfolio includes:

    • Europe: Patent No. 007574967-0001 – 221m households

    • USA: Patent No. US D948,983 S – 128m households

    • Canada: Patent No. 196990 – 12m households

    • Australia: Patent No. 202013716 – 9m households

Market Potential

  • 370 million households worldwide use over 1 billion wheelie bins.

  • 50 million businesses in patent jurisdictions will also be required to recycle under the 2021 Act.

  • Estimated global licensing partnerships could deliver:

    • 4+ million unit sales

    • £120 million turnover

Strategic Fit

  • Waste management is increasingly shaped by circular economy principles.

  • Governments and businesses are seeking solutions that are low-cost, scalable, and carbon-reducing.

  • Basharama provides a unique, patent-protected innovation to meet this demand.We are one small part in the waste management mix.

The Environment

Driving Circular Innovation in Waste and Recycling

In line with the ambitions of COP26 and the UK Environment Act 2021, governments, businesses, and communities are being called upon to accelerate climate action and transform the way resources are used. Local authorities and waste management companies face the dual challenge of improving recycling performance while reducing costs—a challenge that demands innovation and circular design.

Our latest solution embodies this mission.

  • Sustainably built: Each unit weighs just 750 grams and incorporates 75 recycled plastic bottles in its construction.

  • Circular by design: Manufactured entirely from recyclable materials, it not only reduces reliance on virgin plastics but also ensures efficient recovery and reuse at the end of its first life—ready for a second, third, or even fourth life cycle.

  • Ocean impact edition: A forthcoming blue version will be produced using ocean microplastics and recycled fishing nets, tackling marine pollution while delivering the same performance.

The impact at scale is profound: 14 million units produced equates to over 1 billion single-use plastic bottles diverted from waste streams—saving 1,000 tonnes of plastic from landfill.

This is more than a product—it’s a contribution to the circular economy, turning waste into a valuable resource and setting a benchmark for sustainable innovation in the recycling sector.

 

Research Summary – Household Waste Collection Efficiency (Chichester City Council Case Study)

Background

  • Area covered: Chichester City Council

  • Collection system: 16 weekly collection rounds serving 53,341 households, alternating between general waste and recycling.

  • Household mix: 16,614 family households (31% of total).

Key Findings

  • Overcapacity Issues:

    • Higher among larger family households, HMOs, tower blocks, and dense social housing.

    • Peak periods: public holidays and autumn (green waste season).

  • Fleet Capacity:

    • Refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) return with 26% spare capacity on average.

    • Equivalent to ~1,000 additional tonnes of waste per year potentially collectable with minimal increase in manpower or CO₂ emissions.

  • Efficiency Gains:

    • Gravity-fed extraction remains efficient despite increased loading.

    • Improved alignment with COP26 targets and the 2021 Environment Act.

Benefits

1. Operational & Financial

  • Reduced refuse overcapacity and associated complaints.

  • Potential for 3–4 weekly collections, cutting costs for the Local Authority.

  • Lower RCV fuel use and more efficient fleet operations.

2. Environmental

  • Car Trip Reduction:

    • Average trip to Chichester HWRC (recycling centre): 3.2 miles each way (6.4 miles round trip).

    • CO₂ emissions per trip: 1.417 kg.

    • If each of the 16,614 family households made just two fewer trips per year, this saves:

      • 47 tonnes of CO₂ annually in Chichester.

      • 19,646 tonnes CO₂ if adopted nationwide (418 LAs).

    • Equivalent reduction of 212,659 miles of car journeys in Chichester, or 88.9 million miles nationally.

3. Staffing & Cost Savings

  • 2022 Chichester HWRC visits: 257,051

  • Staffing: 8 FTE employees

  • A reduction of 33,228 visits/year (−13%) from fewer excess-waste trips could cut staffing costs by ~£30,000 annually.

4. Health, Safety & Wellbeing

  • Householder Safety:

    • Documented injuries from compacting bins, including falls, lacerations, chemical burns, and exposure to sharps/syringes.

    • Risk of children being lifted into bins.

    • Reduction in incidents could lower NHS costs and prevent serious injury.

  • Infestation & Public Health:

    • Overcapacity waste attracts rats, foxes, flies, and maggots, spreading disease.

  • Mental Health:

    • Some residents experience “refuse anxiety” when unable to fit all waste into bins before collection.

Conclusion

Optimising existing spare RCV capacity and reducing overcapacity waste can deliver:

  • Financial savings for Local Authorities (fewer collections, reduced staffing needs).

  • Environmental benefits (significant CO₂ savings, reduced congestion).

  • Public health improvements (fewer injuries, reduced infestations).

  • Greater wellbeing for residents (less stress around waste disposal).

This model, scaled nationwide, aligns strongly with national environmental targets and offers a low-cost, high-impact policy shift.

Feasability Study

DESIGN

Our pilot scheme using 3D-printed prototypes helped refine the design through extensive trials, establishing the optimum weight, dimensions, and shape for effective, user-friendly performance.

Ergonomic Handle

  • Patented 15cm dual ergonomic handle with both a side grip and a vertical grip.

  • Designed for left- and right-handed users.

  • Side grip compacts refuse to a depth of 29cm, while the top knob grip reaches 40cm.

  • Trials show this design requires the least physical pressure, minimizes body movement, and reduces strain on arms and back.

  • Suitable for users from 4ft 10in and above.

Base & Compacting Performance

  • Base surface area: 130 cm²

  • Average user hand pressure: 65 lbf

  • Compression capacity: 20–25 PSI

  • Compacting efficiency:

    • 77L capacity in a 240L bin

    • 45L capacity in a 140L bin

  • Maintains the integrity of refuse sacks.

Design Features

  • Fluted shape for easy extraction.

  • Protective shoulder to safeguard hands.

  • Compacts the top 40cm of refuse, removing excess air and maximizing capacity.

  • Flexible for use with any size of bin or caddy.

Hygiene & Durability

  • Washable, rust-free, and hygienic.

  • No moving parts or corners to trap bacteria.

  • 65% weight distribution in the base ensures efficient compacting and free-standing storage.

  • Robust, long-lasting, fully recyclable.

  • UV and rain exposure contribute to self-cleaning.

First prototype turned on the lathe

First prototype turned on the lathe

First cad drawing

First cad drawing

Stress testing

Stress testing

3D printed prototype

3D printed prototype

Basharama prototype 12

Basharama prototype 12

HOW IT WORKS

What People Are Saying

 

“Compacting has never been easier”

— Bardi B (Pub Operator)

“the described innovation, although seems simple, holds technical merit and is poised not only to meet the identified need and opportunity but also to be game changing.”

— Innovate assessor