A device for handling and emptying waste collection containers, comprising a coupling head comprising a head structure bearing: • a first holding member suitable for being coupled to a handle fixed on an outer surface of a container for holding said container; • a second holding member suitable for holding a gate operator element arranged in the container, adjacent and/or concentric to said handle and mechanically linked to lower gates of the container for opening and closing same, said second holding member being installed in a moving carriage movable along said head structure; and • operating means suitable for shifting said moving carriage between gate closing and opening positions, in which the gate operator element of the container, held by said second holding member, performs the closure and allows the opening of said lower gates of the container, respectively; wherein • said first holding member comprises a first pair of moving jaws (10a, 10b) acting as a first clamp operated by a holding activation device for moving said first pair of moving jaws (10a, 10b) between holding and release positions which determine the holding and the release of said handle; • said second holding member comprises a second pair of moving jaws (20a, 20b) acting as a second clamp operated by said holding activation device for moving said second pair of moving jaws (20a, 20b) between holding and release positions which determine the holding and the release of said gate operator element; and • the head structure integrates retaining elements which contact with stops of the second pair of moving jaws (20a, 20b) preventing the movement thereof towards said release position, being in said holding situation and said moving carriage being in any position of travel except in a position in which the moving carriage is in its opening position; characterised in that • the jaws of said first pair of moving jaws (10a, 10b) have respective upper planar faces which, in said holding position and in a loading situation, contact with a lower surface of a perimetral flange of the handle of the container receiving vertical loads from said flange, and lower planar faces which, in the holding position and in a loading situation, transmit said vertical loads to and rest on a complementary planar surface of said head structure. • a first holding member suitable for being coupled to a handle fixed on an outer surface of a container for holding said container; • a second holding member suitable for holding a gate operator element arranged in the container, adjacent and/or concentric to said handle and mechanically linked to lower gates of the container for opening and closing same, said second holding member being installed in a moving carriage movable along said head structure; and • operating means suitable for shifting said moving carriage between gate closing and opening positions, in which the gate operator element of the container, held by said second holding member, performs the closure and allows the opening of said lower gates of the container, respectively; • said first holding member comprises a first pair of moving jaws (10a, 10b) acting as a first clamp operated by a holding activation device for moving said first pair of moving jaws (10a, 10b) between holding and release positions which determine the holding and the release of said handle; • said second holding member comprises a second pair of moving jaws (20a, 20b) acting as a second clamp operated by said holding activation device for moving said second pair of moving jaws (20a, 20b) between holding and release positions which determine the holding and the release of said gate operator element; and • the head structure integrates retaining elements which contact with stops of the second pair of moving jaws (20a, 20b) preventing the movement thereof towards said release position, being in said holding situation and said moving carriage being in any position of travel except in a position in which the moving carriage is in its opening position; • the jaws of said first pair of moving jaws (10a, 10b) have respective upper planar faces which, in said holding position and in a loading situation, contact with a lower surface of a perimetral flange of the handle of the container receiving vertical loads from said flange, and lower planar faces which, in the holding position and in a loading situation, transmit said vertical loads to and rest on a complementary planar surface of said head structure.