Airflow Organics Bin

Our weekly trash pickup has an Organics cart which we put food scraps, kleenex and coffee grounds in. We collect the scraps in a paper grocery bag with a paper egg carton in the bottom to absorb and help dissipate moisture. I wanted a bin to hold the bag that would let moisture out of the paper without destroying it.

This design with wood slats does the job beautifully now.

Supplies

I found a good deal at the local ReStore on some nice maple drawer parts for $.25 each, and decided to make this project with them.

Materials: maple wood ⅝” thick, wood glue, polyurethane varnish, polycarbonate sheet

Tools: table saw, calculator, dado blade set, 23 gauge pin nailer

Step 1: Cut Wood on the Table Saw

-cut 36 ⅝”x ⅝”x 17” strips A

-cut 14 ⅝”x ⅝”x 9” strips B

-cut 4 ⅝”x 1”x 13 ¾” strips C

Step 2: Cut Dados

-set up dado cutter to ⅝” wide, 5/16” deep

-cut A dados on one end

-cut 12 B dados on two ends

-cut 2 C dados with even spacing for bottom rails

Step 3: Glue Up "U" Shapes

-glue 20 A pieces to 10 B pieces to form the “U” shapes

Step 4: Finish With Polyurethane

cover the bare wood with two coats of polyurethane varnish to protect from water and mold

Step 5: Glue the Rest

-glue 14 A pieces to 2 B pieces to form the short ends

-glue long and short top rails together

-glue bottom rails to “U” shapes

-glue top rail unit onto the rest

Step 6: Make Polycarbonate Clips

These optional clips hold the bag open.

-cut 4- 1.5”x 4” strips of ⅛” polycarbonate sheet

-bend over heat strip at 1 ¾” from each end

Step 7: Done!

Put a paper egg carton in the bottom, and start collecting food scraps to be composted.