Ask most managers how many bin liners they go through in a month and you’ll get a shrug. Somebody orders when the cupboard looks empty, and the cycle repeats. That works until you run out on a Friday, or discover a stack of bags you bought too small.
A little tracking turns guesswork into something you can plan around.
Count your bins first. Walk through the building and note every bin, its size, and what goes in it. Kitchen bins, washroom bins, the big one by the loading door. Each takes a different bag, and people forget the small ones.
Track changes for two weeks. Ask whoever does the cleaning to jot down how often each bin gets emptied. Busy weeks and quiet weeks look very different, so try to catch both if you can.
Multiply, then add a cushion. Bins times changes per week gives a rough weekly number. Add ten or twenty percent for the days that go wrong, like an event, a spill or a delivery of packaging.
Notice where bags fail. If the kitchen bag splits every other day, you’re paying twice: once for the bag that tore, and once for the one that replaced it. Sometimes a heavier film in one spot saves money overall, even if the price per bag is higher.
Standardise sizes where you can. Five different sizes means five different orders and five chances to get it wrong. If two bins are close in size, see whether one bag fits both.
Think about storage. Boxes of bags take up more room than people expect. Work out where they’ll sit, and keep them dry and off the floor.
Order on a rhythm. Once you know your numbers, set a regular reorder date. Monthly or every second month is common, depending on your space and cash flow.
Test new stock before committing. If you’re switching to a different type, ask for a small amount first, use it for a week, and ask your cleaning staff what they think. They’ll tell you quickly if it’s too slippery or tears at the corners.
If your usage is high enough that buying in volume makes sense, it’s worth speaking with manufacturers who produce bags in large runs, so you can describe your sizes and loads and ask what suits them.
The goal is simple: never run out, never overbuy, and never carry a split bag down a corridor.