Shopsmith Forums

Have you ever noticed how things keep changing? Well sure you have.

This past summer our city decided it was time to change things up again by going to a garbage and recycling container system. The heart of the system are carts that you now use to put your recycling and garbage in. The carts are designed so the "garbage" person stays in the truck and pulls up to your receptacles and an arm grabs them and dumps them. So while new for us this has been coming for a lot of years. Many near by towns have been doing this so you might have already had to deal with this issue.

The issue is that the carts come in fixed sizes. Even the small size we selected is larger then the previous space we had been using. Even the special container that I made some years ago was to short so for the last couple of months ours have been sitting in the backyard. Unsightly, was the least of my concerns but we have animals that would have no problem knocking over these containers and checking out the content........ I'll let you think of other issues you might have but I have a solution for my issues.

First I decided that I would put this in the front, it would not be my first choice but for the fact that it will be easier to deal with in the winter. But a little voice told me that the City might not like this idea and or we might change our minds or any other combinations that might come up.

So using my kreg HD system I made a treated 2 x 4 structure and then did panels for the rest of it. If it needs to move I can take out 4 screws and remove the top, 4 more screws and the sides come off, two more and the back comes off. If necessary I can unhinge the doors to lose more weight. I went with cedar so it is pretty light all things considered.

The roofing material is something I've used before, had to special order it this time as they did not have any in stock. So it went roof less for a while until that came in.

I have yet to put a closure on the doors. I'm thinking perhaps something wooden that is simple and easy to do with one hand. If anyone has an idea please post.

With all that said it time for the pictures.
Nothing fancy.

Ed

Looks sturdier than most houses.

Short 'board' with a screw in the middle. Think butterfly storm window retainer.

The city of Hooper just last month contracted the waste company to do recycling along with garbage pickup. Now there would be two containers. Realize Hooper is not a city. We are 5 miles from the nearest grocery store and gas station. It is incorporated country.

I already recycle. Aluminum and plastic I take to the recycle company and get paid. Paper and cardboard go to the city and they get the money.

The new thing is I have to pay $5 for the service and the city doesn't get a thing. I pay the waste company $5 a month and they get all the profit.

No thanks. I opted out. I will recycle my own stuff.

We went to this system about a year ago. I had a similar problem what to do with the containers. My solution place them on the side of the house and plant shrubs around them so they can't be seen from the street. While we have our share of critters none has tried to get into mine or my neighbors. Figure a bungy cord will prevent them should they decide to try for free lunch. If that doesn't work I will ask you for plans to your solution.

I got three.

Green waste.

Blue recyclables.

Grey yard waste.

Hiding them? What for, everyone has them and sees them at the curb one day a week.