http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/66/section/185Highways Act 1980An Act to consolidate the Highways Acts 1959 to 1971 and related enactments, with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the Law Commission.1981-03-01texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-07-07Expert Participation2026-07-01 Part IX Lawful and Unlawful Interference With Highways and Streets Miscellaneous<CommentaryRef Ref="c13428431"/>Power to install refuse or storage bins in streets.1851Subject to the provisions of this section, a competent authority may provide and maintain in or under a street orderly bins or other receptacles, of such dimensions and in such positions as the authority may determine, for the collection and temporary deposit of street refuse and waste paper, or the storage of sand, grit or other materials.For the purposes of this section the following are competent authorities—ain relation to a street that is a highway, the highway authority for the highway and if different the local authority in whose area it is situated acting with the consent of the highway authority;bin relation to any other street, the local authority in whose area the street is situated.2An authority does not have power by virtue of this section to place a bin or other receptacle on a bridge over a railway, or under a bridge carrying a railway over a street, or within 10 feet of the abutments of a bridge carrying a railway over a street, except with the consent of the railway undertakers concerned.3An authority shall not exercise the power conferred by this section so as to obstruct or render less convenient the access to or exit from—aa station or goods yard belonging to railway undertakers; orbpremises belonging to canal, inland navigation, dock, harbour, tramway, electricity, gas water or sewerage undertakers, or to a universal service provider in connection with the provision of a universal postal service, or to persons authorised by an enactment to carry on any other public undertaking, and used by those undertakers or persons for the purposes of their undertaking.3AFor the purposes of subsection (3) above, the undertaking of a universal service provider shall be taken to be his undertaking so far as it relates to the provision of a universal postal service.4Nothing in this section is to be taken as empowering an authority to hinder the reasonable use of a street by the public or any person entitled to use it or as empowering an authority to create a nuisance to the owner or occupier of premises adjacent to a street.S. 185 extended by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s.112(1)(3), Sch. 16 para. 2(5)(c)(9), Sch. 17 paras. 33, 35(1)Words in s. 185(1)(a) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 22(1), Sch. 7 Pt. I para. 16 (with s. 54(7), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 3, Sch. 1.Words substituted by Water Act 1989 (c. 15, SIF 130), ss. 58(7), 101(1), 141(6), 160(1)(2)(4), 163, 189(4)–(10), 190, 193(1), Sch. 25 para. 62(7), Sch. 26 paras. 3(1)(2), 17, 40(4), 57(6), 58Words in s. 185(3)(b) inserted (26.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1149, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 49(7)(a)S. 185(3A) inserted (26.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1149, art. 3(1), Sch. 1 para. 49(7)(b)