How To Organize a Garage:
Trash and Recycling

When deciding how to organize a garage, you will likely want to find creative ways to store your trash cans and recycling center.

Check on Your City's Recycling Pick-up

Some cities will pick up certain kinds of recycling right at your curb...so find out what they'll take and what they won't take. If they require you to use a specific trash can (in my city the blue labeled trash cans are for recycling pick-up), get one or more, depending on how many you will need.

If you will have items the city will not pick up, will you bring them to the recycle center yourself? If so, have bins or cans for those items as well.

You may want to have one bin for glass, one for newspapers and junk mail, another for aluminim cans, and so on, especially if you plan to return any of your recyclables for cash.
 

Designate Trash and Recycle Areas

Designate the area you'll use for trash and recycle bins...preferably in an area that is not only each to access on a regular basis as you bring trash out from the house, but also easy to bring to the curb for pick-up.

You might even want to build or purchase a simple bin rack to keep all of your bins contained and  in one location.

Choose Appropriate Trash and Recycle Containers

If your city provides trash and recycling cans, make sure you use what they require for curb pick-up.

Lids on containers keep the trash and recycling from starting to smell, and also keep rodents and other small animals from being attracted to your bins.

Store Related Items Near Your Recycling Area

When figuring out how to organize a garage, if you use string to tie up stacks of newspapers, or can crushers to squish your soda cans, store them within easy reach of your recyling area.


Next, check out Organizing Your Garage: Holiday Decorations.

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