5 Tips For Choosing The Perfect Waste And Recycling System For Your Kitchen
With the need to separate waste and recyclable materials in the home, solutions fitted inside kitchen or utility cabinets are becoming very popular. The options available range from low cost door mounted single bins to multi-compartment, multi-layer systems that slide out.
Here are some key factors to consider when choosing your waste/recycling system.
1. Budget: If you want the lowest cost system you should consider using multiple door mounted bins. These are lightweight, inexpensive and effective. Usually the lid will open as you open the cupboard door. The downside is that each bin will take up space in the front of the cupboard it is located in. If cost is not a big factor go for the largest system you can afford and find space for.
2. Number of compartments: Find out how many different ways you will be separating waste/recycling. Make sure you have at least this number of compartments as having less will only be frustrating if you are making trips to the garage for one type of waste and not the other. Also consider that you may be required to split your waste further in the future, so it’s worth factoring this in.
3. Space: Single layer systems can usually fit under a sink making excellent use of a space usually resigned to cleaning materials. Avoid locating a bin in a corner unit as you will find it hard to access the area in the back of the cupboard. If you have limited space try using a large freestanding bin for waste combined with a recycling system. Important: Measure the space you have available in your cabinet (height, width and depth) to ensure you buy a system that will fit.
4. Location: The best location will usually be as close to the food preparation area as possible. Bear in mind you should ideally limit storing tins, airtight containers and cleaning materials in a cupboard that contains a bin/recycling unit to prevent contamination. Also avoid locating a waste system in a cupboard that has a source of heat, for example heating pipes.
5. Installing: Modern systems usually come ready-built so they can be fitted very easily. Usually it’s just a case of fixing the mechanism to the base of the cabinet, and if it bin is designed to open with the door, then another fixing to the door. If you’re not sure try fitting it with minimal screws not fully inserted. Open and close the door then open the bin system, if all looks OK, screw the fixing in completely. Most bins can be fitted in less than 5 minutes.
About the Author:
This article was written by Giles Barrett an experienced carpenter and recognised expert on the subject of cabinet hardware. Giles is Product Manager at http://www.tradehandles.com, where you can find a wealth of informative articles and resources on everything you’ll ever need to know about kitchen waste bins, handles, knobs and accessories.