A passenger is filmed gathering up empty bins at a TSA checkpoint after going through security, and then placing them all in a pile. Is this something you’re supposed to do?
Some people put the bin they were using away when they’re done, while others leave it behind once they remove their belongings. In some airports, TSA employees say to bus your own tray while in other airlines passengers are told not to.
@currentdowns not that I don’t like to do it #airport #security ♬ original sound – kardashianshulu
It can be polite for passengers to stack their bins after removing their belongings. That keeps checkpoints uncluttered, and speeds things along for other passengers. Eventually TSA employees will do it if you don’t, but they may not do it immediately.
On the other hand, these bins are some of the most germ-laden spots in an airport (“the bins are more contaminated than the bathrooms”). Everyone touches them, along with their belongings. They’re more crudded up than the monkey from Outbreak. That’s why I never got the ‘airport tray aesthetic’.
There’s been self-cleaning technology for years but TSA is too complacent to adopt it. One screener breaks it down for you.
“These trays are dirty. You may not see it because I cleaned it, but there was [expletive] in a tray,” Kenney said.
“So you put your vapes in a tray? Just know someone has probably stepped in dog [expletive]. Someone stepped on the ground and put their shoes in a tray,” he added.
Rollaboard bags have been dragging on the ground, from the parking lot, through airports, and across destinations and then they go in these bins. People who may be sick are touching them, coughing on them. I don’t want to touch more of these bins than I have to! TSA employees get nitrile gloves, passengers don’t. (I carry hand sanitizer, and will likely wash my hands in the lounge.)
I find that norms at each TSA checkpoint vary. Some TSA screeners act annoyed that you don’t know what they expect of you, even though it varies from airport to airport. At some airports you’ll be asked to stack bins. At others you’ll be told you don’t need to.
So unless proactively instructed otherwise, I think it’s a matter of doing whatever feels most comfortable to you (including based on norms of what others are doing around you).
Generally I do because if left unstacked it causes a back up..
If you were raised with manners you put the bins where they belong. If you’re and entitled. I’d like most US travelers you are entitled and think everyone is here to serve you and your emotional support animal, you’ll leave them there for the next person to pick up after you.
I can’t even believe the day before 2026 we have to have a conversation with adults about picking up after yourself.
Related
Why doesn’t the TSA have bins for PreCheck? Rarely do I see them. Yet, especially when it’s cold, people have heavy jackets, etc which must be removed.
A simple idea which seems to have evaded the TSA brain trust
I don’t doubt the high bacterial count on TSA bins. If you consider it a problem, you could carry disposable plastic gloves in your pocket to handle the bins after the inspection. Several sets so you can put a pair on before inspection. Disposable plastic sheeting or bags so your things never touch the bins. I have never done any of that and have never got sick because of it as far as I know. One thing that goes against bin hygiene is that the use of them comes in a pressure packed part of the inspection so you don’t have leisure time to do what you want. However, anecdotal as it may be, my catching a respiratory disease when flying seems to be very much reduced by properly wearing a N95 face mask during the entire trip and only keeping it down while eating. Maybe someone will have a story where they got a disease and are sure that it came from a TSA bin.
I suppose I should add that I often stack the bins before I leave the item recovery area after inspection. Maybe stacking the bins is boosting my immune system.
I typically bus as many trays as I can while waiting for my tray to come out from the scanner.This is both a combination of niceness and self-interest: I want my tray to have room to come out as soon as possible.
Part of the challenge is depending on the inspection machine, there may be different bussing mechanisms. Some lane are built with auto bin-returning mechanism, and there are signage indicating that don’t manually bus the bins. However, passengers don’t read, and return the bins manually, thus building up this fort of bins where the auto return process doesn’t work any more.
@Tom K – part of the challenge is the inconsistency between airports and also lanes, even within PreCheck area. Bins are required if they are using the new Analogic machines.
The problem is TSA isnt consistent at all on everything, at airport X you need to show youre BP but not at airport Y, at X you need to hand your ID to the agent but at Y you have to input it yourself. Which end sup slowing up the line, if they had the same system at ALL the airports it would make things alot faster and simple. Same with the trays either everyone has to return them or not, and not yes here and no there.
My biggest gripe is a person puts their belongings on the table and then leaves and heads to the scanner. I simply will take my things and put it a head of theirs and then tell them what you did was wrong you shouldnt leave until your belongings are on the motorized belt, sometimes , when I mention that to them as they start to leave and ignore me I will take their stuff off the table and put it on the floor
If you don’t wear an N95 mask and are not flu and covid vaccinated this winter season, no sense to complain about germs on the bin.
I use 2 trays and stack them as well as push them further. Exception are automatic lanes, like SLC
Different airports and checkpoints have different screening technologies. The new automated lanes require every item to go into a bin, and the bins will automatically return at the end of the lane. Other lanes only have smaller items go into the bins, and the bins have to be manually returned.
The automated solution requires more screening space and is more expensive. What works for new, high volume checkpoints in Denver might not be needed for Colorado Springs much less Scottsbluff, NE. TSA operates at over 400 airports with different passenger volumes and space constraints, so I don’t ever envision a time where they would all have the same equipment.
Easy– if there is a visible and accessible place to stack the bins (like a rack right at the end of the conveyor belt, I stack the tray. If I have to look around and can’t figure out where the trays go, I don’t hold up the line and leave the tray there.
I am a firm believer in smart/intentional design. If they want us to stack it, they’ll make it easy. If not, they must have some other system.
Just hit the next bathroom and wash your hands. Things that should not need a reminder at the airport.
But does it, though? I’d argue that restricting carry-ons to a single under-seat item would speed up security checkpoints more than anything else. Not to mention boarding and exiting aircraft.
Oh, come on. Why is this even a question?
Of course you are. It’s just basic manners, like pushing in your chair when you leave.
I ain’t stacking no stinkin bins. NOT. MY. JOB.
Though I rarely need one to begin with.
Isn’t that TSA’s job?
I was at an airport recently in the USA where they had a sign telling us not to stack the bins ourselves. I believe it was Denver.
@Patrick – the job of the TSA (and we can debate whether they do it well or not) is to prevent items that can be weaponized from entering the sterile area of the airport. Their job is not to pick up after your lazy a$$.
If you do entitled that you think every is there to kiss your a$$ maybe you should private.
And…I get you are just trying to fan the fire, but there are actually people who do believe this. Maybe if the TSA started charging a restocking fee…
Some of you do know that a healthy human body is made to take care of normal bacteria and germs? Funny people make in 1975 were not talking about wearing an N95 mask because bins might be “dirty.” If you’re that Immunocompromised the last place you should be is in a plane environment.
@ Mr. Parker
Pick up after my lazy a$$? You know nothing of my work ethic. And who said anything about someone kissing said a$$. You seem to making quite a few assumption here.
That being said, I didn’t bring the bin or ask to use it. It was FORCED upon me. It belongs to TSA.
@Patrick you said, and I quote, “I ain’t stacking no stinkin bins. NOT. MY. JOB.”
Either you have no work ethic (which I said nothing about), or you’re just a lazy, self-important, entitled a$$. If you think someone is there to clean up after you when it’s not their job, then you are expecting them to kiss your a$$. It is not their job, it is your’s, yet you expect them to bow down and do what you want because you can’t be bothered to move a plastic bind 5 feet. I bet your mother is brought of the child she raised.
And, stop with the histrionics, nothing is being “forced” on you. You have other options. Walk, drive, the bus, the train. This is what is expected if you are wanting to travel via commercial aviation. You do not get to write the rules. So, follow them or GTF home. The rest of us follow them and, contrary to what your mommy might have said, you are no more special than the rest of us who understand social decorum and community behavioral standards.
@Tom K from Seattle
That really depends on the airport. One airport I frequently pas through only uses tiny bowls for items like keys, the bags go straight on the conveyor (not sure what would happen to jackets, I never wear one while flying. Planes are too hot anyway). That airport still uses the older X-Ray scanners for the bags.
Another airport (where Precheck has a separate entrance, but doesn’t have a dedicated lane, you are just mixed in with the rest, skipping the line, passengers get laminated cards to hang on to in order to indicate that they are Precheck and pass through the metal detector instead of the body scanner) instead has everything in large bins. But they also have the new “CT-type” scanners where even non-Precheck folks don’t need to get their electronics out.
Clearly, they should collect them; it’s quite possibly the most valuable activity they’ll perform during their work shift.
I’m with JT. If it’s easy enough — i.e., I can swing my bag back up over my shoulder and simultaneously move the bin to an obvious, nearby stack — I’ll do it. If I have to spend time looking for where it goes or walking around a lot of people, I’ll assume they have a better system that I haven’t understood.
Seth
SFO bins handle it because SFO security isn’t TSA. I’m not a TSAc employee, you can stack your own bins.
I do the same as most of the people, I stack trays and go out of my way to get it done. It helps keep the line moving but i will definitely sanitize my hands after now.
Happy New Year everyone!!
The video is from LGW, for those wondering.
I won’t stack bins even if asked. Not my job. I don’t pay taxes to work at the airport. Could care less what anyone thinks.
Also really worried with the construction at ohare terminal 3 that the easy belt security will be replaced with the awful systems requiring bins. Those systems are really the problem to begin with. We shouldn’t have people using bins in the first place.
In Denver, at least PreCheck, do NOT stack your bins. Sign says not to. It’s automated. Also, each bag must go into a bin. At least nobody takes their shoes off with PreCheck, so maybe these bibs are a bit less disgusting.
I always wipe down at least 20 trays with disinfectant, then stack them neatly. I leave a thank card on top, and a piece of chocolate. Then I go to the nearest TSA agent and give them a shoulder massage, and then tenderly whisper to them how appreciated they are. Do I win the anonymous good person award?
No, I don’t stack them. I clean up after myself, but the trays are not my property, I didn’t bring them, I’m being forced to use them as part of someone else’s process. It’s up to them to design a process to move that equipment where it needs to be.
@Mantis — You’ve said you relocated to Asia, so, how many years has it been since you’ve even seen a TSA agent?
@Parker
LOL… still making those assumptions there Mr. Parker. Lazy? Self-important? Entitled? Expect them to bow down? You have some imagination there.
The rules? I’d be happy to comply with the bin stacking rules once I see them.
And histrionics? “So, follow them or GTF home.” Sounds like someone is a bit agitated.
But have a nice day anyway.
I try to stack some bins as most of the time the automatic system doesn’t work. Like others, I can see my bag, etc. but due to the empty bins and backlog due to the automatic system not working…I stack a few in order to get my bag. T S A…”Thousands Standing Around”.
@1990
This will be my one 2026 message to you. You are so one note. Can you think of anything else to respond to me about? Do you ever have anything substantive to say? If you did, I’ve never seen it. Yes, last year I moved to Asia, it’s not permanent. So the f what? I travel all over the world, visiting family multiple times a year. I’m not some retard leftist like your hero Rosie. I’ve lived on 4 continents. I speak 3 languages. I’m not a provincial putz like you. Now if you ever responded with a logical response to my post, I’d give you the attention you so pathetically crave more often, but I wouldn’t hold my breath for any further engagement. Happy new year.
@Mantis — Dr. Toboggan, you never disappoint. If that’s it for your ole pal 1990, I’d say 2026 is off to a great start. We’ll see… I think you’re more generous than that. Time. Will. Tell. *wink*
(I’m actually with you on the bins, second half above, take care of self, but not going above and beyond.)
Sorry but there is technology that will automatically collect the bins at the end of the belt, stack and reuse them. Sorry, TSA, I’m not doing your job because of your lack of planning and investment in technology-so what’s new?!?!? It’s just a show anyway.
I don’t work for TSA. If they want bins stacked, either automate that part, too, or use the newbies to do that job.
I didn’t design the system and I’m not responsible for maintaining it.
I’m not an actor in their security theater show.
Honestly, just do what TSA tells you to do at that specific checkpoint. If someone can’t follow basic instructions, I pray that they aren’t on the same flight I’m on.
And I definitely won’t put someone else’s bin away. I’m not there to clean up someone else’s mess. Typically, after I handle my own bin, I’ll just go to the nearest restroom and was my hands.
The world is dirty. Stop putting your hands in your mouth, wash them before you eat or operate on anyone and after you wipe and you’ll be fine.
Umm you likely are already touching them when you load up or your stuff is touching them. To not bus them at the end because of the germ argument is silly. You already exposed by that point. Use hand sanitizer or was your hands after security is all.
You don’t have to
I didn’t ask for TSA security, don’t need or want them in airports. Been traveling since the 70s, remember well when they first came on in 2001. I won’t lift a finger to assist authority.
concur with George. I do it because I dislike the mess & the backup plus I always have loads of time just standing around waiting for TSA to clear my carry-on bags. I do it in a noisy fashion so as to embarrass the others who stand there staring.
I generally stack my bins as well as any extra bins in order to keep things moving and be helpful.
If there is a TSA employee standing around doing nothing but telling me to stack the bins I walk away and leave the bins. If they are being paid they can stack the bins instead of ordering passengers to do their jobs.
Never. I don’t work there. I get charged taxes and fees to be there. I’m already paying for bin stackers.
@Tony N — I’d imagine you’d say something along the lines of: “Make me.”
*TSA agent puts on gloves*
“Sir, you’ve been randomly selected for an ‘enhanced’ search… please follow me to this special room…” (It wasn’t a request; it was an order.)