Overview

• Vitalij Maceljuch, 36, born in Ukraine and a Czech national, was seen on CCTV climbing into a recycling bin behind a Wren store in Chester at about 4am on May 10, 2024.
• The bin was emptied into a Biffa lorry, his body was crushed and moved along a conveyor at Thorncliffe’s Alltami site, where staff initially mistook it for a mannequin.
• Toxicology found traces of cannabis and amphetamine, and the Home Office pathologist said the substances could have caused drowsiness consistent with him likely falling asleep.
• The bin displayed a “danger of death” warning, the driver carried out standard checks including shaking the container, and the HSE said neither he nor the companies were at fault.
• Assistant Coroner David Lewis concluded misadventure and said the death likely occurred before the body reached the waste facility.