Crafty inventor builds world's fastest wheelie bin that could hit up to 79 mph

Ever forgot about bin day and had to run down the street chasing after the lorry?

Well, UK inventor Michael Wallhead will never have to do that again after creating the fastest wheelie bin.

His cool contraption can go a whopping 55 mph (88.344 km/h), breaking the previous record of 45.092 mph (72.568 km/h) set by Andy Jennings (UK) in 2021.

Michael told us as he applied for the record: “I have wanted to make a motorised wheelie bin for many years. In December I found I had a spare Suzuki motorbike engine lying around the garage after I sold my bike and figured now is as good a time as any.

“I spent many evenings practising at low speeds as stability is a real problem, but it all paid off on the day.”

Michael explained how he made his unusual mode of transport in a video on his YouTube channel, joking it was “literally the most rubbish project” he’d worked on so far.

He’s also created a roll-over bike, a tandem bike that’s more like bunk beds than being long, and a super-fast driveable suitcase.

“This is The General Waste,” he said, introducing his record-breaking bin.

“The record stands at 55 mph but I have done 66 mph now.”

The bin, also decorated with a sticker reading “Dukes of Hazard-ous Waste”, is named after the General Lee Dodge Charger from The Dukes of Hazzard TV series, which is also bright orange in colour.

Michael explained: “We had to whittle down some punny names which were suggested. We had Light-bin McQueen, we had Bin Diesel and Gone Bin 60 Seconds.”

He said the idea to make a speedy wheelie bin came to him years ago when he was stood in the garage that housed his and his dad’s cars.

Michael was telling a friend that he wanted a new project but that it had to be “no bigger than a wheelie bin” because that was all the space he had.

Read about more record-breaking inventions in our Science and Technology section.

He said: “It’s just sort of been in the back of my mind ever since, and during COVID, a man named Andy Jennings built the first motorised wheelie bin and set the first record for that.

“After Andy, I got my backside in gear and decided to build a bin.”

Climbing inside his bin to demonstrate how it works, and joking he needed to take up yoga to manage the manoeuvre, Michael showed how his knees touch the front of the bin when he sits down.

It is a “extra-large family” wheelie bin, but still a standard model and not very roomy at all.

Between his legs are a set of handlebars he uses to steer and brake. And his foot sits so close to the engine that it actually burns through his shoe.

Essentially, the bin houses a small tricycle that’s souped-up with a motorcycle engine.

And for that added bit of crowd-pleasing, Michael added a wheelie bar at the back that the bin can sit back on for a cool effect, as well as, of course, some neon lights.

It may look like a lot of fun to drive, but it’s dangerous too.

Michael said: “I did fall out of it once at around 30 mph, and when I went over I hit my shoulder on the floor.

“Since then, the standard protocol has been, if it does topple over to tuck down inside and let the bin slide.”

Michael is thrilled his wheelie bin is now the record holder, and that it featured in Guinness World Records 2025, but he’s planning to improve his design and go even faster.

He says that theoretically, 79 mph is the top speed the wheelie bin could go.

We’d love to see it!