Keep Debris Out While Stormwater Keeps Moving

What happens inside a stormwater pit when leaves, wrappers & larger debris arrive with the first heavy downpour? RELN Trash Screens create a physical barrier inside compatible pits, retaining unwanted material while allowing stormwater to continue through the drainage system. Explore the wider RELN range when building or maintaining a complete surface-water setup.

Rather than letting rubbish travel deeper into downstream pipework, a Trash Screen intercepts it where it can be accessed again. Galvanised steel construction provides a durable barrier for compatible pit configurations. When the wider job involves collecting surface runoff before screening it, RELN | Drainage & Pits provides the natural starting point.

Maintenance becomes considerably easier when captured debris remains somewhere visible & reachable. Choosing the right Trash Screen therefore isn't just about dimensions; pit compatibility, expected debris, incoming water volume & future cleaning access all deserve attention.

What Are RELN | Trash Screens?

RELN Trash Screens are galvanised steel pit accessories designed to retain larger rubbish & debris while allowing stormwater to pass through. Installed within a compatible drainage pit, the screen creates an accessible interception point before unwanted material can continue further through the stormwater route.

Compatible applications can include:

► Series 300 Deep pits
► Series 410 pits
► Series 450 pits
► Uni-Pit Vortex™ 450 systems
► Larger commercial surface-drainage installations

Their role is different from the grate sitting at ground level. A grate provides the upper entry point into the pit, while the Trash Screen adds another interception stage below, where debris carried by flowing stormwater can be retained.

Why Choose RELN | Trash Screens?

Stopping debris earlier can make the rest of the drainage system easier to manage. Instead of allowing larger material to continue towards downstream pipework, a Trash Screen provides an accessible collection point inside a compatible pit.

Key advantages include:

► Galvanised steel construction
► Retains larger debris while allowing stormwater through
► Fits compatible RELN pit systems
► Supports domestic & commercial drainage applications
► Accessible for inspection
► Removable for cleaning
► Helps limit larger rubbish travelling downstream
► Useful where surface runoff carries leaves or litter

The benefit becomes especially clear after windy weather followed by rain. Loose leaves, garden material & rubbish can suddenly move together towards drainage points, making interception inside the pit valuable before that material travels further.

Common Applications

A clean carpark on Friday afternoon can look very different after a windy weekend & overnight storm. Trash Screens suit drainage points where surface runoff regularly carries material that you'd rather retrieve from the pit than chase through downstream pipework.

► Residential drainage pits – capture larger garden debris entering household surface-water systems.
► Driveways – intercept leaves & loose material carried towards pit drainage.
► Carparks – retain larger litter entering compatible commercial pits.
► Paved courtyards – provide another debris-control stage beneath the surface grate.
► Commercial properties – help manage rubbish reaching drainage points around trafficable areas.
► Landscape drainage – intercept leaves, mulch & other larger organic material moved by runoff.
► Workshop yards – capture larger surface debris before it travels further through stormwater drainage.
► Property maintenance upgrades – add accessible debris interception where compatible pits support a Trash Screen.

Picture a tree-lined driveway during autumn. The grate may stop larger leaves, yet smaller material can still enter with runoff before collecting together inside the drainage route. A Trash Screen provides a secondary interception point where compatible pit design allows it.

Where surrounding surfaces need correction to improve how water reaches the pit, Soil & Ground Preparation Tools can support the wider ground-preparation work.

Product Selection Guide

Match the Screen to the Pit

Start with the pit series already installed rather than choosing a screen by appearance. RELN Trash Screens are designed around compatible pit configurations, making correct identification the first selection step.

Check:

► Pit series
► Pit dimensions
► Existing grate
► Screen compatibility
► Available internal space
► Access for removal

A Series 300 screen shouldn't be assumed interchangeable with a Series 450 component. Confirm the pit before ordering, particularly when replacing an existing screen in an older drainage installation.

Consider the Debris the Pit Actually Receives

A backyard pit beneath trees faces a different maintenance problem from a commercial drain collecting litter from a paved yard. The type & volume of material reaching the screen should influence how frequently the pit is inspected.

Where preventing rubbish from moving through outdoor areas forms part of broader site management, Environmental Protection Products can complement drainage maintenance around commercial, civil & industrial sites.

Plan for Cleaning Access

A screen doing its job will eventually have something sitting against it. That makes accessibility part of the product decision rather than an afterthought.

Allow for:

► Safe grate removal
► Screen removal
► Debris disposal
► Visual inspection
► Routine maintenance
► Access after heavy storms

Don't bury the maintenance problem beneath landscaping or permanent obstacles. A drainage pit that cannot be conveniently inspected is less likely to receive attention when debris starts accumulating.

Know What the Screen Does — & Doesn't Do?

Trash Screens tackle larger debris, not every contaminant carried by stormwater. Leaves, litter & larger material can be intercepted, but fine sediment or dissolved contaminants require different management approaches.

Matching the component to the problem avoids expecting one accessory to perform several unrelated jobs. Identify whether the issue is debris interception, water collection, infiltration or downstream movement before changing the drainage setup.

Check the Water Path Around the Pit

Debris interception won't compensate for water that never reaches the drainage point properly. Surface fall, pit position & surrounding levels still determine how runoff arrives.

Measuring & Leveling Tools can help with level checks where paving, landscaping or ground movement has altered the approach to an existing pit.

Sites relying on infiltration elsewhere in the stormwater layout may need a different type of water-management component altogether. RELN | Soakwells provides an underground infiltration option for suitable ground conditions rather than performing the debris-interception role of a Trash Screen.

Maintain the Screen Before It Becomes a Restriction

The right time to clear a Trash Screen isn't after water starts backing up around the grate. Inspection frequency should reflect the environment around the pit.

Check more frequently:

► After storms
► During heavy leaf fall
► After landscaping work
► Following high winds
► Around litter-prone commercial areas
► When drainage appears slower than normal

Seasonal conditions can change maintenance needs quickly. A pit beneath open paving may require little attention for months, while one beneath overhanging trees can collect debris far more rapidly.

Treat Maintenance as Part of the Drainage System

Opening pits introduces wet surfaces, awkward lifting & potentially contaminated debris. Use appropriate precautions when inspecting or cleaning drainage infrastructure.

Work Safety Protections can support maintenance tasks where suitable gloves, footwear or other protective equipment is required.

Expert Tips

► Identify the pit first. Series compatibility should lead the selection.
► Inspect after major storms. Heavy runoff can deliver more debris in one event than weeks of normal weather.
► Watch tree cover. Overhanging vegetation can dramatically increase the amount of organic material reaching a pit.
► Clear the grate too. A clean Trash Screen won't help if the surface entry is already blocked.
► Don't wait for ponding. Slow drainage can be an early indication that debris needs attention.
► Keep removal access clear. Landscaping shouldn't prevent the pit from being opened.
► Use product codes when replacing components. Visual similarity isn't enough to guarantee compatibility.
► Check downstream flow after cleaning. Persistent problems may indicate an issue beyond the Trash Screen.
► Look at the whole catchment. Debris may be travelling from much further away than the immediate pit surrounds.
► Increase inspections during heavy leaf fall. Tree-lined sites can change quickly once wind & rain arrive together.
► Dispose of captured material properly. Don't leave removed debris beside the pit where the next storm can wash it straight back in.
► Investigate repeated blockages. Frequent heavy accumulation may justify changes to upstream housekeeping, landscaping or drainage management.