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January 19, 2007

Untrashy Approach to Garbage

PICT0016_1garbage.JPG
We passed by this garbage can container on Lafayette Dekalb Avenue recently and thought it was an interesting twist on the traditional shed that one usually sees. Quite an elegant solution. Any other interesting approaches people have taken to garbage can concealment?




Posted by Brownstoner at 10:42 AM | Comments (30)
Categories: Architecture, Clinton Hill, Fort Greene

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Comments

That looks so great, the owner can have someone live in it for rent. $500 a month sounds resonable, especially to be in the neighborhood, right?

Posted by: anon at January 19, 2007 10:44 AM

Wonder where they got it?...Probably had it custom made.

Posted by: Argyle Road at January 19, 2007 10:47 AM

nice bench.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 19, 2007 11:00 AM

This is an issue that is on my "have to get to" list. Most of the garbage containers I have seen are either fugly or not practical. if any one knows of a company that sells these types of container, please share.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 19, 2007 11:02 AM

This is on Dekalb, not Waverly.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 19, 2007 11:04 AM

Very nice. Better chain it down. It may take a walk ( you never know )

Posted by: Rick at January 19, 2007 11:09 AM

We did have it custom built by a handyman w/basic carpentry skills. Its a three sided cedar plank box w/a hinged lid.

Posted by: dekalbdweller at January 19, 2007 11:12 AM

Once lifted the lid of mine to find a rat. Now I keep trash inside, round it up in a contractor garbage bag and take it straight out to curb. I get trash picked up 3x a week here, don't see the need for trash storage.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 19, 2007 11:15 AM

Looks great.
I have a 6 unit condo next to me - that has only 2 uncovered garbage cans,
tucked into unused small doorway often overflowing, and no recycling at all.
(and these are not cheap condos).

Posted by: Anonymous at January 19, 2007 11:30 AM

dekalbdweller,

how much did he charge you for that?

Posted by: NewStoner at January 19, 2007 11:30 AM

It looks custom made, but it looks really easy to make...just some stained 2x4's. You can probably buy them ready to go. This is a must have in the country, where wild animals sift through garbage. You can probably find them in garden shops in Westchester and north of there.

Posted by: yente at January 19, 2007 11:33 AM

i grew up in a brownstone on the upper west side and our neighbors tried to do something like this, but the tenants kept leaving their trash next to it rather than opening the lid.

Posted by: dahl at January 19, 2007 11:33 AM

"the owner can have someone live in it for rent. $500 a month sounds resonable"

LOL--when I lived in a three-family house in the South Slope the owner was seriously talking about renting the space under the stoop for someone to sleep in. I talked him out of it by reminding him that the storage space there was actually part of my apartment.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at January 19, 2007 11:38 AM

Looks nice to me and will look even better to rats - if it isnt 100% solid it will most likely become a rat haven.

Posted by: David at January 19, 2007 12:20 PM

These containers do not lead to rats. You place your trash cans, with lids, in them. It is an aesthetic decision. You don't toss bags of trash into the box or loose garbage into the box, it goes into the trash cans and lids stay on top (unless you're not too bright...;-) )

Posted by: lp at January 19, 2007 12:51 PM

it will definitely become a rat haven. we have several of these built much more solidly and always have issues with rats.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 19, 2007 1:13 PM

You probably have rat issues BECAUSE they are built "more solidly". Rats like concealment and dark garbage filled boxes fit the bill. I read somewhere that rats can squeeze thru 1/2" openings. Shiver.

The place posted doesn't have rats - I live nearby. This open design keeps the place tidy looking and easy to keep clean.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 19, 2007 1:30 PM

How MUCH??? Somebody!

Posted by: Anonymous at January 19, 2007 1:34 PM

yes, how much and can we get the name of the handyman? looks great!

Posted by: anon at January 19, 2007 2:04 PM

You get rats when you don't keep your trash cans closed and they are able to get to the garbage, not from putting your closed cans in a wood container. If you have open trash cans in a container, or anywhere, then rats are likely...

I'm not sure how much it would cost to build one of these, but it would be an easy job to construct for anyone with basic capentry skills (though I'm sure a contractor would charge you a fair bit if you had them do it for you...)

Posted by: lp at January 19, 2007 2:20 PM

With the amount of light and open space, that container isn't any differnt that the rat running up to an unconcealed garbage can. It just looks neater.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 19, 2007 3:44 PM

WTF...I'll make one for you. For a price.
A high price, that is. ;)

Posted by: yente at January 19, 2007 4:07 PM

3.44pm, that's the point, aesthetics, not rodent protection...

Posted by: lp at January 19, 2007 4:37 PM

I think it looks great. The handyman that did it, has a great sense when it comes to being creative,especially when it comes to putting a spin to common things...I think he did a wonderful job...

Posted by: so at January 20, 2007 4:21 AM

I LOVE the stain color! Very nice and neat looking. As for rats, How can you say there are no rats in that part of the neighborhood. Rats are everywhere! Take a walk at 4am on a nice warm morning and see how many rats you'll hear/see.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 20, 2007 11:52 AM

rat access !!

Posted by: yikes at January 20, 2007 3:44 PM

The box was easy to build in about 2 days (you can determine labor costs accordingly). Sadly, our wonderful handyman has moved on to bigger and better things. Re: rodents, it conceals 2 covered heavy duty garbage cans--never, ever seen a rat.

Posted by: dekalbdweller at January 20, 2007 4:09 PM

At 116 Lafayette, I have built one out of unstained mahogany that has a cinder block base sunk 16" below the ground next to the stoop so it is perfect bench height, and it contains 3 hidden garbage cans.
15 years - no rats

Posted by: 191 at January 20, 2007 8:26 PM

What a great idea, I'm going to do this at my house with 1x4s...seems pretty straightforward. Mine willbe black, though. :)

Posted by: Jeremy at January 21, 2007 6:11 PM

You guys with the rental comments are KILLING me!!!! LOL!!
I was looking for a quality entry door and a friend told me about this site, WOW!! And this garbage container is by far the most simplest & elegant outdoor designs that will raise the visual property value.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 22, 2007 3:56 PM

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