trash receptacle in blind corner accessible from outside, yay or nay?

3 years ago

When I lived in Denmark I had a garbage and recycling can under a counter in a hybrid mudroom/pantry space. There were drop holes in the counter inside, and outside they were behind an exterior-sided panel that opened up so garbage was, essentially, always outside.

Our kitchen has a blind corner that shares the blind/end wall with our attached garage. We could create an encased and insulated cubby, accessible from the garage so we just open the 36"ish tall door in the garage, dump the garbage (and recycling) in the wheelie bin and go. Could have recycling too- ideally one counter drop hole for both but there may not be a realistic mechanism to switch between the two. We don't have wiring or ductwork to work around, just a drafty corner currently.

Cons

-fussy custom build (but we're handy and can do this ourselves...eventually),

-hole(s) in the counter (but there is no upper above, we tend to have herbs plants on a tall stand in this corner- or can hang them, so it's not lost counter space)

-sometimes things don't fit and will need taken directly to garage through attached door (our current kitchen trash can is a 10 quart pail for 5 of us, not very concerning)

-cleaning cubby

-i have to relocate milkstand, again

Pros-

-uses blind corner well and saves other cabinet space

-no taking garbage out routinely, probably just once a week

-cleaner (my kids are sometimes sloppy with garbage under counter/floor), and--

-sanitary/easy to use- no handles or knobs or anything to operate with messy hands

-long term time saver

-easy for guests to spot rather than opening all the cabinets to find a garbage

-a place to put all the kids' stickers

I never see anything like this here and I don't know why. What do you think of a system like this?

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Comments (15)

PRO
The Kitchen Place
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I love the idea, kinda. I've always wanted something similar for my cat's litter box....but not in the kitchen. hahaha. I say go for it! Only thing I don't like is the hole(s) in the countertop. Consider a grommet trim...maybe even with a lid of some kind? Other idea would be to conceal behind some kind of "appliance garage" down to the counter...so you could conceal the holes when needed? But both of those ideas kinda takes away from the function, doesn't it? If the holes don't bother you go for it. I just wonder how icky it might get. And how big do the holes need to be to fit all the trash you might need to toss? Milk jugs? larger things?
molman thanked The Kitchen Place
molman
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
We'd probably buy a countertop trim thing like you suggest- haven't looked into what's on the market. I hope it will have a bit of drop tube too, which can help things from getting thrown to the side, and be cleanable from above and below. I don't love the hole in the counter top either, but it's low value real estate in our kitchen (that back corner) and won't change what is happening above the counter; it's only an aesthetic "meh."

I found a little cedar chest and cut a perfectly round hole for the cat to go in. The litter box fit perfectly and it was going to be GREAT and clean. Except the cat didn't like it. Someone on craigslist did.
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PRO
The Kitchen Place
3 years ago
oh shoot.....didn't think about that JK!
molman thanked The Kitchen Place
molman
Original Author
3 years ago
Ah, yes! Good point. It looks like fire rated and insulated access panels in this dimension are just under $200. We may be able to classify it as a porch or a shed, since there is never a vehicle in it, just firewood, milkstand, chest freezer and trash. Homes typically have human doors for people between house and garage, where the garage is actually used for vehicles, so it's pretty reasonable to think it's not particularly dangerous and we can find a way for it to work with our local building codes. I'll look into that- thanks!
molman
Original Author
3 years ago
Just spoke with the building inspector and he said all that is needed is a 20 minute fire rated door and appropriate sealing around the drywall and door (caulk). Everything under the counter is whatever we want it to be. We'd need a permit with plans, of course.
molman
Original Author
3 years ago
There are lots of grommet style rings that are inexpensive and can work. This has a swivel lid, but then the access is limited. Maybe just a SS grommet with a custom solid wood cover that can be left on or off.
mama goose_gw zn6OH
3 years ago
I think that's a very cool idea. Can you please explain a milkstand? I googled and got plans for a goat-milking stand. 😶
molman thanked mama goose_gw zn6OH
molman
Original Author
3 years ago
That's the one! We had kids born yesterday- CUTEST ONE EVER

I really can't get my SO on board with this clever trash system idea, as great as I think it is.
mama goose_gw zn6OH
3 years ago
Oh, it's adorable! My grandmother kept goats when I was a child. Thank you.
PRO
The Kitchen Place
3 years ago
OMG such cuteness!!! I love seeing them hop around.....they don't seem to run but hop! so cute!
molman
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
The technical term is "popcorning." :-) They aren't there yet however...still learning how to snuggle and nurse. Did I just hijack my own thread?! I can go on and on about goats...
Janet Campbell
3 years ago
Feel free to go on and on about goats! Many years ago I raised Nubians for a few years. Still miss them!
molman
Original Author
3 years ago
We raise Nigerian Dwarfs and two years bought a wonderful Mini-Nubian doe. She just kidded for the first time. I LOVE Nigerians' stature, colors, and milk, but this Mini-Nubian is a dream milker (teats that fill my hands! she's like a faucet!), and just the sweetest, albeit a little lazy. We crossed her with a Nigerian so the twins this week are mini Mini-Nubians.

The trash system is dead. He won't budge, and he never won't budge. We're too busy for me to try to win him over.
chicagoans
3 years ago
(not a pro) I liked your idea! But sounds like a no-go. I'm one who hates to waste space so, like you, I'd want to use it somehow. You can look into solutions for a blind corner (Rev-A-Shelf has a few) or you could dedicate that space to your exterior space. If it's finished so that it's only accessible from the shed side (but covered with your counter on the kitchen side), it could be a cabinet, recessed shelves, etc. for storing whatever you need out there. Darling kid!
molman thanked chicagoans
molman
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
@chicagoans- that's a great idea. I'm actually building new kitchen cabinets and having a hard time getting that corner perfectly squared. It works, but I wan't it perfect. If I had a good reason to cut it down and use the space differently then I'd be happy. So, I could use that space to store some vet type products that we use outside but do better stored inside. Nice evolution! ...round 2 with SO.

trash receptacle in blind corner accessible from outside, yay or nay?

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trash receptacle in blind corner accessible from outside, yay or nay?

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