yakkity-yak!

Today on Kater’s Duh of the Day, we will discuss “What is a trash can and how do I use one?”

Noun 1. trash can - a bin that holds rubbish until it is collected
link for household trash cans: http://www.kitchensource.com/trash/
link for recycling bins: http://www.kitchensource.com/trash/d/recycling/

Trash cans are found in many areas in the common American household. The rooms that use a trash can most frequently are the kitchen and bathroom. Most trash cans have special disposable plastic liners that are thin, yet durable. The purpose of these liners is to keep the trash can itself from harboring great amounts of sticky waste that could produce a bad smell or grow harmful bacteria. These liners, often called “trash bags,” are as varied in size as the trash cans themselves. Some people re-use plastic store bags for their household waste and still others purchase larger commercially available trash bags.

Kitchen trash cans hold food waste as well as paper wrappings, plastic containers, and cardboard boxes used in food preparation. Kitchen trash cans are usually between seven and thirteen gallons in size. If a trash can was much bigger, it would not fill up fast enough before the waste inside began to smell bad . Kitchen trash cans often have lids to keep the smell in and small children and/or pets out. Bathroom trash cans tend to be smaller because far less waste is produced in a bathroom that cannot be flushed down a toilet. Some people do not use a liner in their bathroom trash can; they simply empty it into the larger kitchen trash can before placing it outside for weekly collection.

Many communities are reducing their consumer waste by implementing recycling programs for glass, paper, metals and plastics. In communities with recycling plans, each household is responsible for separating their participating recyclable items from general household waste and those items are collected at different times.

To use a trash can or recycle bin, one must first recognize what items are actual trash. Plastic containers contain a specific code stamped into the form. Depending on your community, you may have to distinguish between certain types of plastics, based on their code, to decide which ones go into the regular trash can and which ones are rinsed and placed into the recycling bin. Either way, plastic containers should not be left on the floor under the dining room table or kicked under the edge of the lower kitchen cupboards. Empty milk cartons are not actually placed back into the refrigerator. They are rinsed out and the cap or lid is thrown away into a trash can while the bottle itself is placed in the recycle bin. Glass jars and bottles are not left on the edge of the sink. They are rinsed out, (some communities require that the labels be removed at this time as well), and placed in the recycle bin. Lids to glass jars are usually thrown away. Cans, such as those used for soup, evaporated milk, and vegetables, are not left on the countertop next to the stove. They are also rinsed, labels removed, and placed in the recycle bin. Aluminum beverage cans are not left in the stack of dirty dishes in the sink. They are rinsed and sometimes crushed before being placed in the recycle bin. Paper and cardboard without food waste are broken down flat and nested together to prevent them from blowing around the neighborhood during collection times. Some communities require paper and cardboard items to be tied with twine. Post consumer waste such as used napkins and tissues, paper towels, paper plates, plastic cutlery, cleaning cloths, and sanitary items are never recycled.

It is important to note that once a trash bag is full, it needs to be taken out of the house. A trash bag can be removed from the house before it is full if it has strong-smelling food waste inside such as onions, meat products or spoiled food. Once the trash bag leaves the house, it should be placed in a large container with a tight-fitting lid. The lid serves two purposes. One, to keep the smell of rotting waste from circulating around the outside of homes and neighborhoods. Two, to keep neighborhood animals, birds and bugs from attempting to eat the waste and possibly spreading it around, attracting more types of pests.

Now that you have a basic overview of what trash is and where it goes, you can use this highly important information to keep your home clean and smelling fresh. Trash cans should be cleaned periodically with commercially available household soaps or cleaners, or the more environmentally sound approach of a vinegar-water solution or a baking soda and water paste. A sprinkle of baking soda in the bottom of a completely dry trash can before the liner is inserted also works to deodorize for a while. Remember: the more often you take the trash out of the house and place it into a large, covered container, the less often your home will smell like a rotting meat factory.

author’s note: i am continuously amazed at how difficult it is for anyone in my house to
a) put trash into the can or bin,
b) empty the bag when it is full (or smelly), and
c) get it to the curb when i am not home.
how hard is it, guys? i mean, really.