The Bunnings Workshop community can help with your home improvement projects.
Hey so I am trying/been tasked to build 2 outdoor 3 part/section trash, recycling and compost bin that "is not ugly". It needs to be strong enough to withstand outdoor conditions, clean and tidy and not to hard to put together. This is to go into a school(new enviro project) so trying to do it in the cost effective way. The goal is be able to have them painted and decorated by the art students. But to be frankly honest I don't know how to tackle this in term of making them or what i should make. Any and all advise would be appreciated.
Hi @SophT,
A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community and thank you for your question.
Is the idea to build an enclosure where you would, for example, have a wheelie bin for rubbish, a wheelie bin for recycling and then a compost bin?
You'll have to use materials that can withstand the outdoors, so treated timber or hardwood is a must. Sienna sleepers are an option that would stand up to the weathering and look relatively nice.
The sleepers could be joined and concreted in place using sleeper posts. You'd need two corner posts and six end posts.
Something along the lines of this.

I think this is good as a starting as it gives you a nice solid structure you can work off of.
Are there any additional considerations that you think would need to be made?
Things like a lockable gate to prevent bins from being removed?
Allow me to tag @DIYGnome, @Dave-1 and @Noyade to see fi they have any ideas.
Let me know what you think.
Jacob
Good morning @SophT
My Garbage bins sit out just on the inside of my fenceline looking like theyare just waiting for trouble
Ive given it a fair amount of thought as to how to make the area nicer.
So the first question, do you have a photo of the general area where the bins will sit? It will help with designs and layout.
Ive seen plenty of enclosures with lids that open, that open the bins themselves. But I like simple. The drawing that @JacobZ has done is almost what id be suggesting, tho another 1/5th higher. This is to stop wind blowing across the top and lifting the lid and then the bin "taking a drunken walk" It also somehow makes it look not so much like "thats a bin cover" as the shape looks a little different.
At the moment my bins are half hidden by the fence but on even a resonably breezy day that all stagger about. Three pavers are still not enough to hold the lid down. So higher sides would work in my situation. Waiting to see your photos ![]()
Dave
Workshop is a friendly place to learn, get ideas and find inspiration for your home improvement projects
We would love to help with your project.
Join the Bunnings Workshop community today to ask questions and get advice.