When planning a kitchen remodel or designing a new kitchen most homeowners consider everything about the look of their kitchen, except where the garbage will be stored. Garbage is certainly not the most exciting or pleasant topic when discussing your dream home or renovation, but it is necessary for effective planning. Garbage is usually strategically located near the dishwasher and sink for scraping food from dishes, but it’s also needed near the prep area. Whether the kitchen is small, large, or somewhere in between, garbage disposal is a vital component of the kitchen design. In the modern landscape of 2024, the days of a single bag tucked under the kitchen sink are gone. Municipalities, including those in the Niagara Region, require careful waste separation for collection. This entails sorting food scraps, plastic and glass for recycling, cardboard, regular garbage, and various other disposables. With the packaging of today’s food products being what they are, separating and storing our garbage in the appropriate trash compartments is no small feat, but we are certainly up to the task. So, here are a few options for garbage disposal:
- Under the Sink: Most homeowners are familiar with the under-the-sink option for garbage, but now with the need for separation, divided containers are required for recycling, food garbage, and trash. If you have a large sink area, there are pull-out options that may work, but likely will need to be emptied often. So, if the cabinet is not big enough to accommodate the separate bins, an additional cabinet might be necessary. Depending on the size of the kitchen, garbage and or recycling can be stored in adjacent cabinets that pull out for easy access. There are many organizers that cabinet companies can use to make that storage effective and easier to handle. Some of these organizers are exceptionally well-designed and functional. Ease of use is so important! But not all homeowners can afford to lose cabinet space for garbage – so other options are necessary.
- Trash Compactors and Garburators: Some homeowners may consider these options as a means of reducing waste storage. They can be located in the kitchen or even in an adjacent mudroom/pantry area. Trash compacting allows more garbage to fit into one container, so it’s important to note that it will be heavier when you go to move it later on. Also, keep in mind that these appliances have varying noise levels and options, so it’s recommended that you do your research ahead of any purchase.
- Alternative room or closet: If a pantry, mudroom, or closet is nearby, recycling can be built into a cabinet, or kept in freestanding bins, hidden from plain sight. Food garbage can remain in the kitchen for convenience. This leaves most of the coveted kitchen cabinets available for kitchen needs and helps keep your countertops free.
- Customized cabinet alternatives: If your kitchen is small, it’s likely that giving up a cabinet to hide your trash is simply not feasible. However, it is possible to have a kitchen company make a housing for recycle/garbage bins that matches your existing cabinets that you can then place in another area of the kitchen if the space is available (e.g. at the end of an island, in an alcove, etc.). A decorative furniture piece, a console cabinet, bench or window seat can be retrofitted to secretly provide storage for your recycling while appearing as a dining accessory.
- Garbage Containers: If all else fails or if you simply prefer free-standing stainless steel compartmental bins for their convenience, they can be strategically placed outside the main view of the kitchen. Some of the latest products are also far more attractive than a typical trash container. There are fingerprint-resistant units or hands-free/automated options that help keep the surfaces clean. Even a choice in metal colour is available; there are rose gold options for stainless steel containers that make it look less like a garbage bin simply by the colour. Powder-coated steel trash and recycling separation units are available in white or charcoal grey, blending right in next to similar-coloured cabinets. Many of the newer trash/recycling separation units also have charcoal filters for odour control.
Keep in mind the best option for you will depend on how much trash you actually create and how often you will need to remove that trash from your kitchen, with consideration for the next homeowner as well. Larger families are likely to require more storage than single homeowners and functionality of a kitchen can affect your resale value. Think ahead and consider who may purchase your home one day. Even the location of nearby doors to take trash out is an important consideration in planning. When planning kitchen garbage locations, wherever you choose to store your inside trash, you need to ensure that you can clean and disinfect the area if/when there are spills. Also, consider how you will control odours, and if possible, have a way to open it when hands may not be clean or dry. Emptying the trash daily or frequently is certainly optimal, but even so, by nature, trash is smelly, and you may not want to store your garbage beside your kitchen chair or someone else’s. And finally, don’t forget about outdoor housing for household waste that keeps it safe from animals, and contains any smells, keeping it from coming into your home or overwhelming your outdoor living spaces.
If you are considering a custom build or renovation in the Niagara Region, call the experts at Vanderzalm Construction Inc. we can be reached at 905-562-4463 or 905-684-5823 or by email and we look forward to hearing from you.