This trash hideaway will deter little claws from digging into your garbage, recycling and compost while keeping your curbside boxes hidden away. With this attractive project, garbage doesn’t have to be unsightly.
Construction only takes a few tools. A tablesaw, drill, handsaw and router are all you need, although a jigsaw would come in handy too. For lumber, I used the fence-grade cedar you can find in any home-improvement centre. Deck screws and weatherproof glue hold everything together.
Download the illustrated trash centre plans here!
Download the printable materials list for the trash centre
Getting started
Before you begin, study the plans. You’ll see that the lid is angled downward 15º from horizontal to shed water. To achieve this, you need to make a few bevels, including at the top ends of the side assemblies and corner posts, and on the top edges of the front and back.
The anchor frame serves as a nailing cleat for the boards on the back and sides. Rip 2-by construction lumber into 11⁄2"-wide strips, making the three anchor frame pieces. Glue and screw the wood together to create a U-shaped assembly.
Next, rip four 35⁄8"-wide pieces for the lower frame parts. Using biscuits, assemble the pieces with mitres at the front and butt joints at the back. Secure the anchor frame to the lower frame with glue and screws driven from underneath.
Cut a 2x4 down to 11⁄4" x 1⁄2" to make the two corner posts and the three parts of the H-frame. Cut angles at the top ends of the posts, as shown on the plans.
To assemble the side frames, lay five boards on a flat work surface. Create a consistent gap between the boards using 1⁄8"-thick spacers inserted between each one. Square up this assembly, then attach the long inner cleat to what will become the inside. Glue and secure these joints with 2" deck screws. Leave the side boards longer than necessary.You’ll trim them to length and add angles later. Repeat this process to end up with two sides.
Attach the two sides to the outside edges of the anchor frame using screws and glue. Install a temporary brace to keep the two fence-like sections from falling over. As you work, make sure to extend the rearmost side boards beyond the back edge of the anchor frame. Clamp the corner posts in place and secure with glue and screws. Then cut the upper frame front, sides and back to size, and secure them to the H-frame and corner posts with glue and screws.
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