What's the best way to lock a trashcan to a post?

If you’ve ever stumbled outside to find your trashcan lying on its side, contents scattered like a crime scene, or worse—your recycling bin sprouting legs and walking off into the sunset—you know my pain. I’ve been there. I’ve wrestled with raccoons, battled the wind, and played detective trying to figure out who keeps “borrowing” my bin. So, after years of trial and error (and a few bruised knuckles), I can tell you with confidence: the best way to lock a trashcan to a post is a heavy-duty, two-point restraint system using a ratchet strap or a chain and padlock combo coupled with a simple bracket.

Let me walk you through my favorite method, which I call the “Belt and Suspenders” approach. First, anchor a sturdy metal or rubber bracket directly to the post at about mid-height. This keeps the trashcan snug against the post, preventing it from pivoting sideways. Next, loop a weather-resistant ratchet strap around both the can and the post, cinching it tight enough that no amount of wind or cunning paw action can wiggle it loose. For extra security, swap the strap for a short, thick chain and a heavy-duty padlock. This locks the lid down and the body to the pole, turning your trashcan into a fixed fort. The secret? The bracket prevents rotation, while the strap or chain locks the whole assembly. I’ve tested this through storms, critter invasions, and clumsy pizza deliveries. It works every time. And cleanup? Now, I just whistle—instead of crying into a busted lid.