When the bin is past its best, how do you dispose of it? In other words, where is the bin for the bin? Here’s a good few ideas about what to do with old kitchen bin?
If your bin is on the way out, this is the article for you – we’re going to explore all the different options out there!
What To Do With Old Kitchen Bin?
There are a great many things you can do with your old kitchen bin, to save just chucking it in the tip!
- Use it as a flower pot. Simply drilling a few drainage holes and filling your bin with soil means that you can grow some beautiful flowers!
- Turn it into a water butt. Once you have cleaned it out thoroughly, pop it under the end of a gutter and use it to catch rainwater for the garden.
- Grow some potatoes. Spuds need nice deep soil, so if you have a big bin then it’ll be a perfect potato patch.
- Store compost. Because it is a sealed unit, an old kitchen bin will be perfect for making compost to feed your garden plants.
- Make it into a pond. A container pond is super easy to make – just dig a hole, sink your bin into it and voila!
- Force rhubarb. If you want a great crop of delicious rhubarb early, you can turn your old kitchen bin into a rhubarb forcer with very little effort.
As you can see, you can not only turn your old bin into something great and practical but avoid adding to landfill waste at the same time.
How Often Should Kitchen Bins Be Replaced?
You should remove the bin liner from your bin at least once a week, more frequently if it starts to get full or too smelly.
Replacing the bin itself does not need to be done nearly so often; generally bins are made of hard, durable materials.
You should definitely replace your bin if it gets broken in any way – the last thing you want is liquid from the bin bag leaking over the kitchen floor!
Generally, as long as it is not dented or damaged, a good sturdy kitchen bin can last for a good few years.
Replacing the bin is not as important as keeping it clean – you should do this at least once a week.
If anything gets spilled on the bin, try to remember to wipe it off straight away, as leaving it can cause unwanted smells and germs.
How Do I Freshen My Kitchen Bin?
There are a few ways to keep your bin fresh that do not involve cleaning out the whole thing again and again.
- Sprinkle some bicarb in the bottom of the bin. This will absorb nasty odours and help to keep everything clean.
- Place some cat litter in the bottom. Cat litter is specially designed to absorb odours, so doing this will help to keep things fresh.
- Line it with newspaper. Placing a few layers of paper in between the bag and the bottom of the bin will absorb that mysterious liquid that somehow always seeps out.
- Slice up some lemons. Laying a few slices of lemon on the bottom of the bin will absorb odours like magic!
- Keep it cool. Make sure your bin is not in the sun, or too close to the cooker – warmth will encourage bad smells.
This video has some good tips on keeping your bin fresh and sweet smelling:
Can I Take Old Kitchen Bin To The Tip?
You can, of course, take your old bin to the tip if there is genuinely no life left in it whatsoever.
But, before you do that, take a good look at it and see if there is anything else you can do with it instead.
Old, cleaned kitchen bins can make a great upcycling project as they are generally large, sturdy and able to be used in a lot of different ways.
Fancy an unusual planter? Turn your kitchen bin into a flowerpot or a great bed for potatoes!
If you’ve always wanted a container pond, your old kitchen bin can become the perfect one – sunk into the ground, it can attract all sorts of wildlife.
You can also simply use your old bin as a storage container – fill it with compost, or animal feed, or just those old bits and bobs lying around on the shed floor.
What Can I Do With Old Plastic Bins?
If you have upgraded your old plastic bin, you’ll want to know what to do with it so it doesn’t get wasted.
You can use it for storage, as long as it is clean – keep it in the shed and use it to store old screws.
Or, drill a few hole in the bottom for drainage, and use it for planting pretty flowers or even vegetable!
Plastic bins make great compost holders; if you can find a lid that fits them tightly then so much the better.
You can use plastic bins to store dried food – as long as they are clean you can fill them with pasta, rice or anything else that is mostly non-perishable.
If you are a crafty person, why not turn your old bin into a holder for all your arty crafty supplies? It keeps them all in one place so you can find them!
It can be hard to know how to throw away the thing that you throw away things into. Hoepfull you now have some great ideas!
Whether you decide to reuse your old bin by turning it into something else or you decide to get rid of it completely, we’ve got your covered.
