My favorite project - ever

My absolute most favorite project I have ever completed in my home is not a decorating project. It is not pretty and has nothing to do with aesthetics. Actually, it stinks.


Here it is:







Our trash and recycling center! I know, not really that fun, but incredibly functional and has increased the amount of our recycling to point where we typically have only 1 bag of trash a week. For a family of five. With 2 kids still in diapers.

We have always recycled, but having the trash and recycling right next to each other, it is just as easy to recycle something as it is to throw it away. We used to have the trash can on one side of the kitchen, the paper recycling was tucked away in the island, and the plastic and can recycling was under the kitchen sink. It was always easier to just throw things in the trash. We decided to find a different place to put the trash once our twins started opening up the trash can and playing with the garbage (gross, I know). I started researching and we decided to give up an entire lower cabinet and turn it into our recycling center. Where did all those pots and pans go? A pot rack! You can see it in the side bar, and I have a ton of kitchen projects coming up very soon, so better pictures are on their way.



The project was very easy, once the cabinet was cleaned out. I purchased 2 of these:


from Home Depot and installed them easily in one afternoon. I also installed the door mounting kit



so all you have to do is pull the door and the trash cans pull out. All you need is a drill.


That was a year and a half ago, and it all still works great. We have saved a bunch of money on trash pick-up and are helping mother earth at the same time. Also, we have lucked out since recycling in our area is curbside and is free. Now we don't have a trash can to look at and stink up the kitchen anymore, and our kids are learning a valuable lesson.


Reduce, reuse, recycle.

Do you recycle?